^^ 



^3* 



l^oel 



Class 

Book 



JO '^ / y \: 



COEflRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Cupyiiglit by 
ALBERT W. MANN 

1917 
Ali rights reserved 






»v^ 



Printed by tlie 
PL'EITAX LlkoTVPE 

152 Purcliase St. 

Boston. Mass. 

1917 



OCT -8 1917 



)C1.A 17:5928. 



Jntrobuction 

A native and resident of Llustim, educated in her piiljlic 
schools, one of the many thousands she sent forth in de- 
fence of the L'nion, a lo\er of her history and her tradi- 
tions, the writer submits this volume for the perusal nf 
other lovers of this good old town and of citizens all n\er 
the great Republic wlio hold the name and fame of I'Kistwn 
in reverence. 

The early settlers on these J^astern shores, the Pilgrims 
and the Puritans, were intelligent, liberty-loving. God- 
fearing men and women, who laid broad and deep the foun- 
dations of this mighty nation. They were devoted to prin- 
ciple. They toiled, they suiTered, they fought, and, in many 
cases, they died for righteousness' sake. They were men 
of like passions as ourselves, with their faults, but their 
virtues far outweighed their failings, and they left us :i 
glorious heritage of character and achievement. 

In the mad rush of these days for wealth, power, and self- 
gratification, we need to pause and ask whither are we 
tending? A well-known educator once said ; "The biogra- 
phies of the good and great have, for their direct tendency, 
the reproduction of the excellences they record." Let us 
hope that a careful reading of the character and work of 
some of the men herein recorded may result in a saner out- 
look upon life and a better and noijler use of our oppor- 
tunities. 

The writer acknowledges his great indebtedness to many 
sources in the compilation of this work; to the "Boston 
Globe." the "P.oston Post," and the "Boston Budget," for 
much interesting and valuable matter: to the State Street 
Trust Company, for pernn'ssion to copy from their inter- 
esting historical jjamphlets such pictures as might be se- 
lected to illustrate the articles herein presented; and his 
sincere thanks to all who have in anv wav assisted him in 
this work. ALBERT W. MANX. 



Contents: 



I'.ii.stiin. tlic Mmlcrn Athens 1 

John Winthroj), tlit- l-dnnilcr of I'.oston 4 

The Settlement ot" I )orelievter ami .Mattai)annock (South 

i''0-ton ) 14 

The l-.arlv Settlers— 1 low Thev Dre-se.l and How Thev 

l.ive.l and Worked ' '.24 

The Ancient anil I loiiorahle Artillerv l/onipanx t^j 

Cotton Mather and the Day- of \\ itehcraft in New 

I'.ni^land 45 

The I 'in'itan I Hue Laws 51 

Roii'er \\'illiani>. the Apostle of Relitiious Toleration .... •,('' 

Some Items of Historical Intere'^t — I'irst Thinq-s Ti^ 

Boston Streets. ( )ld and 1 'resent Xanies, and .Some Items 

of Interest (^'oncernint,' Them J2 

-.)ld Boston : \dditions ancl Improvements yS 

The Old State Ih .use 88 

Faneuil I fall. The Huguenots and the Faneuil Family .. 07 

The St.imp Act. 1765-1766 125 

The r>ost(iU Alas^acre 1,^4 

The I'.oston Tea I'arty 147 

The Boston I'l ni Bill, 1774 167 

I.exinutiin and t. (jpcord. April ]'i, 1775 176 

The I'.attle of I'.unker lldl 1S7 

-rile Swt.rd of Bunker 1 lilk' Iii7 

.Some h'anKJU^ I 'laces of Resort for Whios and Tories of 

I\e\ iilul'(in.ir\ I )a\^ ii)i| 

How Wa^hiui^ton (. ompelled the ^.riti^h to I'.vacuate 

1 '.oston 205 

William ( unnin^ham 210 

The American I'laL; 214 

The Hiring; of horei^n Mercenaries hv Fnyland to Suh- 

iuL;ate America 22 1 

.Samuel .\dams 22^ 



Contrntsi ' tontinueb 



i'.'iul Kt.-\cr(.-. tlir Mi-rciUN' of ihc American Ivcvciliition .J^G 

L'enjamin i'ranklln J47 

John Adanis 275 

( Icncral |i)lin ( ili)\tT, a Rcsdlutionary llen> .".... 281 

( icnt^ral Henry l\nu\. I'.ddksellcr. I'alriut. 1 Icneral, and 

Secretary of War 299 

The Charles River Uridine 3<J9 

The Exchani^e (dtiee I lunse 311 

The I'ubhc ( larden 315 

Boston Schools 320 

The l'"irst Church 3-'') 

The Cnited States Xavy in the War of iSl_' — • )ii the 

( )cean and 1 m the 1 ,akes 335 

Daniel Webster and I lis I Innie in lloston 353 

The \isit of Lafayette to America in l8_'4-l8_>5 _Y<- 

The Anti-Slavery Slru.^.i^le and the Aholition Leaders in 

Ma-'sachusett- 371 

Tile \isit of the I'rince of Wales t,, i'.oston 31)0 

South L.oston in the I'.arly I'ifties 400 

I'.oston tdnimon 416 

Lioston Libraries 425 

Cnion I'.ank I'.uildini^, 41) State Street, 1X30 428 

The Merchants' Exchan,t;e, State Street 4311 

Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes 431 

Kev. I'.dward lA crett I I ale, I). I ) 43^ 

( ie<irKe L. McNeill 441 

Temple I 'lace 444 

I'arker's Restaurant and the I'arker I louse 447 

^hlsical l-V-stivaL 45' 

The ( )1<1 South Church 454 

1 'ark Street ( lunch 4'>4 

The I'-ajitists in I'.ONtou — h'ir-^t Uaplist (. hurch 467 

TreuKiut remple I'.aplist thurcii 471 



Contrntsi i continueb ) 



The lli-atl'k' Si|narL- I liurch 480 

The .Arhn.i^toii Street ( hnreh 484 

Tile Birthplace ol the I nixer^alist (.'hurch 487 

The Roman Catlmlic ('hi!rch in Huston 490 

The West Knd Ihnrch 497 

l~he Draft Riot in Hoston. July. iSii^:^ 500 

Christ Church. 1775 508 

Trinity ihurch 513 

The ('hri>tian Science Church 519 

Meth(i<lisni in l',ost(jn 521 

Raliih Waldo l-'nier^nn 523 

Some \'iews on Treniont Street 53r 

New South Church 539 

( )1(1 r.nstun 'I'heatres 541 

All.ert W. Mann 546 

I"\ent- I'recedinLj the Civil War 348 

Aiassacluisells and I'.ostun in the I'ixil War 555 

The Hdvs in I'.hie Wlm Saved the Cniim 5(14 

Lincoln's ( letty-liuri; Addre-- 3(18 

I .nicnlii and thi- Scildier^ ;()9 

An Illinois Su'dier at the I'mieral of Aliraham I.incnln . . 371 
Moslcjn: lt> Area. <,it\ ( mv ernnient and Present Standing 574 







//..„, l\-,7/,„,„ 1. l/'./s.- 

Sodton, 'E^t fil?otifrn attrnS 

From a sik-l-c1i at the l)ani|iii.'t to tlic Ancient and llonoraljlc 
Artillery Company of lloston at Xortdlk. \'a.. Oct. 5, 1904. 

Roston is indeed the modern Athens, and well deserves the 
title, for she has preserved the jjeiiius and spirit of the art and 
cnltnre of her illustrions predecessor. The old .\thens erect- 
ed a fiH\^t of majestic t'oriiithian columns in front of 'lie 



J Walks 011,1 Talks .11',, lit Historii Boston. 

temple nl" ( iKiiipian |ci\e ;i> a >\nil)nl of hi^ might. On 
r.imlai- Mill there rises a plain, unadnrned e(]lumn as a syiii- 
hdl (if the simplicit\ i>\ the power nf i-ight. The old Athens 
had hei- Mar-- hill, wliere I'aul aseeniled. and qazing- , m tlu' 
heantifnl, costh temple^ ahont him dared say, find dries not 
dwell in leniple^ made li\' hand>." ( inr Athens has the old 
.^omh ehnreh, where liiseph Warren entered and foreiiig his 
w,a\- past r.ritish ofheers to the judpit, while drnms of a regi- 
ment wt-ie heaten t" drown his xdice, dared to denounce the 
ininstiee and iipjiressidii of his maiest\- King ( ieorge in the 
presence of his Mildiers. 

• >ld Athens had her hhie .I'lgean sea. where her ships sailed 
to destroy the I 'ersian lleet, the coni|nerors of the east, hnt on 
the shoi'es of onr Athens was Imilt and launched the iron- 
sided frigate C onstUutioii that relinked the haught\- mistress 
ot the seas, ami in the roar ot her camion, proclaiiiie<l the fact 
th.it Ihatannia rules no more, i iraiid, glorious, the gem of 
.ineieiit -\tliens was her temple-crowned Acropolis, its summit 
rising to hea^•^■n and consecrated to the immortal .gods, hut our 
\theiis, with the diviner light of understanding and conscious 
]iride in heautiful ( 'oples .^i|uare, where is gathered together 
within the granite walls all the hest recorded thoughts of all 
llie centuries, holds in re\'erence this her most priceless iewel. 
which scintillates with the hrighliiess nf lu-r intelligeiu-e as 
she points to tlu' iiiseri] itioii. 'dhiilt li\ the people anil dcdi- 
c.ated to the ad\aiicc-ment of learning." f loiie are llic' immor- 
tal goils of the old Acropolis, hut modern .Athens, still in the 
enchantment of her \outh and with ]ierfect snliliiiiit\- of faith, 
!o(iks toward the fntiu'e Iw" the |io\\er of liei' geiims. deter- 
mined tii ixwe.al more to man iil his ( i\\ n destiin .ami clearer 
re\-elation of the |iiirposes nf the inhnite. 

hear old lloston, we, \-our suns, hold you in teinlcr remeiu- 
lirance tonight. Like all Ndur ahs(.'nt children, we ever turn 
to \ou in lo\'ing tlioiiL;lil .and .a lT(.'ct ion. and wdieii the sands of 
life are nearh run, we w.iiil mir last w.ilk to he in the old fa- 
miliar streets, we want onr last look to he on the old familiar 
faces, and as the twilight deepens into darkness we want to 
sink to onr eternal nii^lit, our soul exalted li\ memories of you. 

The mother may forget the child 

That smiles sac sweetU- on her knee: 
I'ait I'll rememher thee, i denc.airn, 
\iid .all that thon h.ast ,l.,ne for me. 



Jottn CClintfjrop, Ufir foimlirr of iSooton 

jiilm \\'intlii-ii|) \va-> Imni in 1 3S8, in tin- nianur iionse of 
r,i()t(in. C'cunit\ 111' Suffolk, k.n^land. Ik- came nf an an- 
cient and honored family of staunch Pnritans. The estate 
of (iroton was a part of the monastery of Bm^y of St. \Z<\- 
mands anil was purchased in 1544. In- his o-randfather, Adam 
\\'inthrop, a wealthy clotli merchant of T^ondon, shortly 
after the monasteries were abolished. The siin, also named 
.\daui. succeeded to the estate. lie was a law\er, with a 
London |)iacticc-. and sat as magistrate, at his manor at 
(Irotou, f(jr the ('ouutw lie h.'id .'i fine estate, a snuL,'" for- 
tune, and was .'i scholarly and hospitable man. 

jolni \\ iuthrop. as a \(iuth, met at his father's table 
many intelligent men and preachers of the Puritan persua- 
sion, for the sym]iathies of the family were with the prin- 
ciples that led thi- Pil^jrims to emi.q-rate tc) Tlymouth. and. 
later, were to lead to the settlement of Hoston. in which 
John \\ iullirop was to ha\e a k-adiuL; part, ddu-re is no 
doid)t but that the cori\-ersations and ari^uments of such 
g^iiests, mad(- a deep impression on the youiiij;- and plastic 
mind and had nnich to do in shapiuL; his career. .-\t the age 
of [4 he was sent to t'amliridge L'ni\-ersity, not far from 
his home. At i<"^ yi-ars of a.ge, he \yas converted, and be- 
canu- an earnest ( 'In-istian, and at 2: \ears of a.sfe. he sat for 
the first time as a mayistrate, at his home in Groton Manor, 
showiny tliat he was .-[ yood student of the law, for he had 
already been admittt-d to practise in the London courts. 

His third wife. Alaroaret Tyndale. was a rarely attract- 
ive character, and was dexoted to W'inthrop and her famil\- 
duties. At thi-- time- tin- sjiirit of i-eligions persecution was 
sweeping- o\er iMiyland. .M,-in\ had taken refuge in other 
countries, especially in lb 'Hand, and from these refugees 
came the little band of I'ilgrnns. who set sail on the "May- 
flower" foi- \m<-rica. John Winthrop saw, that if he was 
!(■ b(- true to his religious conxictions. he. too, must fh' to 
some place <if refuge, so he made i-(-ady to leaxe his pleas- 



Walks and Talks .Ihanl lllstonc Boston. 5 

ant lioiiu-, lii> (lid fi-icnil-. lii^ Inrr;iti\c hnsiiiess. and he 
{(pined his Idrtnncs with the men \\h(. \\crc t(i tditnd the 
Cdloin of Arassachiisetts Hav. 

idle settlement nf the I'ili^rini h'atheis at I'lvuKinth. was 
ma(l(.' under a |)atent. issued hy the \'irL;inia Company, in 
Kijo and the C'om]iaii\ was called tile "(~oiincil for Xew 
l-JiL;land," and it was from this latter (.'ompan\-, that six 
well-to-do I'.ni^lishmen, seenri'(l m KijS, a Ljrant of Massa- 
chusetts, which was delined .is h.ixiiiL; a northern boun- 
dary three miles s(jnth of the .Merrim.ac river, and its 
soutliern l)oundar\-. three miles south of the Charles river, 
and extendini;- indefinitidx- westward. The primary object 
.if this ijrant was commercial, Imt ,uiion£r the promoters 
were men of stcrlin- I'unt.ui \iews. and as thiuL's fell out. 
the Commercial C'ompany's enterprise was to deveh.ip a 
predominatiiii^' reliijions character, and this came ahoiit 
iargely throuijli the election of John \\'inthrop as the first 
Covernor of the Commnnitv to be planted in Massachu- 
setts. It w.is :m important ])osition. needinL; a ^^ood ( ir- 
.Hatiizer. a man ni ,L;re.it wisdom, indumeut. inteL;rit\ and 
foibe.ar.mce. All these ipi.-ilitics W'inthrop possessed in an 
eminent dei^ree. in .idditiou to a s\ nipathetic natm-e. and 
deeph- religious temperament. To lead these colonists 
meant ;i L;reat sacrifice on liis |i,irt. for lie stootl hi^h in the 
estim.ation of his felhjw men. he li.id a hue estate, and a 
\-er\ l;iri.;e l;i\\ practice. I lis selection of se\ cr.il Imndred 
IKTsoiis, coniposint;- the comiiany of emiujiants, the charter- 
ing; and \ictu;ilini; of so many ships, the cmido^nient of 
ministers. ,i snrL;i'oii and other persons for places of respon- 
siliih't\ and trust, the pm'chase of supplies for the settle- 
ment, tile .irr,in,L;ini; of his personal aff.airs for a Ioul;' al)- 
seiice. possibly never to return, occiipieil e\ cry moment of 
his time. 

■'\'(i e\ent of ancient or modern times is more inteiest- 
im;. .Is cert.iiidy none h;is pro\ed to be more important in 
its influence on the political institutions of the n.ations. ,and 
the cause of libert\- .and cixilizatiou. th.au the eniiLjratiou (jf 
this band of colonists in I'l.v" The ships' rendezx ( lused at 
Southamjnou and it is estim.ated that the expense of su])- 
plyiiii; them .amounted to iiearh- one hundred thousand dol- 
lars. .AmoUL; the emigrants were clersrynien, physicians, 
ma.t,nstrates, military officers, millers, merchants, mechan- 
ics, and others, possessed of h(irses, cattle and other prop- 



6 



ll\,lks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



ert\. "In |H.iiii ..f inH'lli,L;<MUT. -,. nial |)(l'^iti"n, finiuu-ss of 
|uir|i. '-(■, anil an rxalte'l --tanilard of ci insciciicc. it was the 
nil 1^1 ri-niarkalilc pai'ly ..f i-Mb.ni^t^ that r\i-r left their na- 
li\e shiire^ t" lead the \\a\ in the e^talili--hnient uf i;reat 
ei\il in^titnli'in'-." ln--t l>ef(ire the fleet ■-ailed. I\e\ . jcihii 
(dttun uf r.n^-tiin. in 1 .ine"ln>hire. the ^piritnal L;"nide i if the 
emigrants, and who \\a-~ In follow them t" the new ANnrld. 
Iwii \ ear^ later, pieachecl a sermnn fri an j Saninel S:ie), 
".M. ire(i\ er I will appoint a place for me |ieo|de. Nrael. and 
wdl plant them that the\ ma\- dwell in a place of their 
own." (In March JV iii^n. fonr of tlu- --hips -,(,-1 sad on 
tlieii' "liin^ anil tedion^ Mixa'^e acio'-v the vinrniv Atlantic." 
rile ".\raliella" named for Lady .\rahella john'-on. a pass- 
eni;er oil the --hip. led the way. ( )n hoard the -anie -hip 
were ( iiwernnr W'inthrop, .sir l-aac jnhii-on, Richard Sal- 
ton-tall. William ( iiddinL;lon, .afterward I io\ ernor of klmde 
Uland, Thiima- I )ndle\ . Later .i ( ioN ernor of !\r,i^--,achii-etl-. 
,ind other-.. ,as -oineone h.i- -.aid: "all de\ mit .and -.erioti- 
people in the better w.alk- of life; le.iviiiL; the --trcjiiL; tie- 
ol home and coiintrw like W inthrop, to find freednm of 
Conscience in the new world " Afn-r .a -toiaiiy jiassage of 
ide\ en week'-, they came in --i-ht of the -Imre-- of l\astern 
.Maine. Tniler date of jniie S. Ki.^o. we find the foUowiil.i; 
entry in "\\'inthro|i'- diarx of the \ 1 1\ aL;e" : .\hoiit ,^ in the 
afternoon we li.ad si-lit of land to the X. \\'.. ahotit ten 
leaL;iie-. which we -nppo-ed were the i^li.-- ol Motihe^'an. 
htit it |iro\,Ml Mount Mnii'-ell l Mount De-ertl. dduni w a- 
tacked .and -tood W. .s. W. \\\- had now f.iir Min-hine 
weather, .ind --o pleasant and sw t^t ,in air. as did much re- 
fresh n-. and there caiiK' a --nicll of the -hori.- like the -mell 
of ,a garden." t'oa-tiiiL; alon;,; toward- M,a-s;u hn-etts, eii- 
ciiiinterin.i; fo^. calm and he.ad wind-, at fiuir u'clnck mi 
Imie !_>. lii:;(), they were olT their point of de-tin.itioii. 

The eini^^r.ant-- li.ad re.ichc-d the little -ettlenieiit of S.alein. 
then two year- old. "There \\iiitliro|) e.\|iected to find 
ample mean- -eiit out the ye.ir hefoi,- with which to c.-- 
t.ahli-li hi- new commnnit\. either there or el-ewhere. htit 
in this he w.as hitterU ili-.appointed," 

In the e.xpedition headed liy l.ilin I'ndicott in \i^2i< to 
XaniiikeaL;' were six -hi]i-. .ind in the I'oiiip.uu were :ii)o 
men. So women .and maid- .and ji i children, hrin-in^ with 
them 140 cattle. 40 L^oats. f.arm ini]ileiiient-. and hoii-ehold 
.Uood-. Winthrop expected to find hoii-c- hnilt. crop- 



iralks and T.ilks .Ihoiil llistoric Hnsloii. 7 

plaiUrd and c'\rr\ tiling in a pnisjx-rc ms cunilitioii, lull saw 
HMtliiiiL; Inn nii'-liirlunc on evfry hand. A sliipldad nf I'l md 
had ncit arri\cd. Muring the ])rt'\i(]Us winter, ^irknos had 
carrii-d "ft So (jI" the conipany. 'Idu- ri->t were v.. ill and 
luniu;ry, they were scarccdy ahle tu muvc. ■|"hc\- were in 
such a (Ic'sprralr cnnditidn that Wintln-op had to take care 
III tlieni. as well as cii hi^ nwn e(inipan\. making; ii\er 1 .cjoo 
siinls, that he nni--t carry thriinL;h the \\ inter and he had 
mil sntficient stures In dn tliat. lie at once sent hack to 




\],„lln..i.\ SI,,,,, 



I'-iii^lanil fur ninre fund. lli> (le-.tinalic m wa■^ I'm^l'in llar- 
hcir. where w.is a sni.ill settlement at Mi^hawan ( ( harlcs- 
tdwnl a kind . .f picket pust, sent "lit hy F,ndicntt, t" llnld 
the ground a^^ainst all nther cniners. I'.iit accnrilinL; to 
\\ inthnip's understanding, his charter emlnaced. imt only 
.Xannikea.g, Imt Massachusetts aKo. shi.nid .1 faxurable 
liicalinn he found, sn with his \ essels. he sailed ii|i the 
.Mystic ri\er si.\ miles, tn the present site of Medfnrd. lie 
Hilled the land carefuIlN . .and the liiial decismn was that 
( harlestiiwn was hest suitecl Inr .all the purpnses ,,| his 
liart\-. In the last days nf June his cnnipany diseinliark'e(L 
(iovernnr W'inthrnp nii i\ ed iiitn a great hnnse that had 
been Iniilt there, as did aKi. sdnie <<\ his |ir(iiiiinent ass.i- 
ciates. while the multitude set ii]i cottaujcs. luMiihs and 



8 Walks ami Talks .Iboiit Historic Inisiou. 

tents al)()Ut the Tciavii Hall. On August 23, 16.^0, tlu- first 
court was lu-Id. a meeting' nt the (iovennjr and his Coim- 
cillnrs (ir Ass()ciate>. a^ tlie\ were lalleil. numbering 18. 
It was the lirst rei)resentati\ e l;(>\ eminent in the Colony, 
and tills ma}- be called the birth nf the "(Ireat and (general 
(iiiirt of Massachusetts." It was a religious community. 
\\ ith but few exceptions, all the nieml)ers of the little band 
had emigrated ti > -\inerica because the}" could not con- 
■-cientiously worship accorcling to the rules of the C'hurcn 
of F.ngland. They did not --eparate them^ehes entirely 
from the church and so stated in a petition to the clergy 
before lea\ ing i^uglancl. What they desired and asked for 
was a church reform without a separation. Rut the Church 
of England did not heed their petition, and the Puritans 
continued to stand for Congregationalism. As religious 
men the first i|uesti(in which th y settled was the support 
of theii' minister. Sickness swept away several of that 
little band at C'harlestown, among others Ladv .\rabell,i 
Johnson. Following the sickness came other trials and 
hardshi])s. Their -~toc]< of ])rovisions was getting low. the 
springs began to dry up. At last onlv one spring remained 
and that could be reached only when the tide was out. In 
this extremity there came across tin- Charles ri\-er from 
.'"^liawmut. A\"illiam lilaxton (I'dackstone) who<e home w.is 
on the Southerly slope of I'.eacon II ill. and who was known 
as the hermit settler, lie w.'is a man of education, but very 
eccentric. He settled in .^h;iwnnit about I'i25 and was 
.about thirty-ti\-e \ears nf a-^ lb- w.-i^- r.ither tall and slen- 
der in form with a pale and thoughtful face, lie told ( io\ - 
ernor \\ inthrop of ,[ fine spring on the peninsnl;i and in\it- 
ed the colonists to change their settlement to its \icinit\. 
The majority voteil to ,icce]it the invitation and the colonists 
moved ovei- in .'September Ki^o, 'Tn 11134 he sold 44 of his 50 
acres to ( io\-i-rnor Winthrop for Si 50. the- mone\ being raised 
b\' ;i tax le\ied on the inhabitants. He retained h acres for 
his homestead, which one himdred years later was rjwned 
by Copley, the f.anious portrait painter. 

The 44 acres became "P.ostou Common." The Ceneral 
Court at this time decided to name the town. In honor of 
the .ancient East cotmt\ cit}' where their favorite minister, 
the l\e\ . John Cotton, jireached. and from whence came 
sexeral of the |n-oniinent emigrants it was called "P.ostnn." 



Walks and lalks .Ibout flistoric Hostoii. 9 

In tlie sharp, fmstx' wx-allicr of a W'w I'.n^land anUmiii. 
\\"iiitlirni), and bis fellow colonists, raised their roof trees 
in lioston. and it was with mnch foreboding- tbey looked 
forward to the coming- winter. The new locati(.)n was a 
rough, uninviting |)lace. its surface uneven, and covered with 
a scrub growth and hideous thickets in whicli wolves and 
bears nursed their \(->ung in sight of all beliolders. ^larshes 
surrounded it i >n three sides. Governor Winthrop's first 
house in lioston. was located on ,*-state Street, where now 
stands the Exchange Building. It had been framed in 
Charlest(nvn and was moved over. .\ little later he changed 
his residence to \\'ashing"ton .Street, opposite .School .Street, 
the site of tlie Old South P.uilding. ITe was induced to 
make the change because it was in the iniiuedi;ite vicinitv- of 
a ne\er failiuL; spring of excellent water, where now is 
Spi-iuL; Lane. M;in\- of his associates located near liim. 

Winthrop's <;arden extended to Milk .Street. That was 
I oil ycirs before the Old .South Meeting House was erected. 
Tile reniii\al from Charlestown in September, did not give 
the settlers time to erect substantial dwellings, and many 
had to ])ass through the rigors of a Xew England winter 
in tents. The few houses that were constructed, were of 
the rou:.:hesi nialeri.ils, with roots nt thatch, .ind chimneys 
made of slicks and nnid. ;ind these Iktuscs were filled to 
o^■erflowing. The rxpostire of the \'o\age. the poor and in- 
sufficient diet, anil unsanitary condition, liroiiglu on an 
epidemic of fever, dysentery and scurvy, which pro\ed fatal 
in a large number of cases. Eroni the fiovernor's house, 
where a considerable number appear to have been shel- 
tered, 12 corpses were carried out to l)e Iniried in the flinty 
frozen ground. Such was the scarcitv of food, that the men 
-coured the shores for clams and nntssels, and scraped the 
snow on the wooded hills in search of nuts and acorns. 
There was the howling of \\oI\es at night, and their in- 
roads by day, on their fast dwindling stock. There were not 
many Indians in the \icinil\. Iml these few were friendly. 
In those dark days the strength of tlie homesick and strick- 
en people was John AV'inthrop. lie was the valiant soul 
that g;ave theiii all courage. lie tended the sick. He la- 
•liored with his nwn hands to help the suffering. He shared 
his food with whoever was in need of it. He quelled the 
turbulent. He chastised cvW doers with inexorable justice. 
He ke|it alive the flame of hope. To the Indians wdio came 



Ii ,!iks ,iud talks .llunil llistonc Boston. 



aiiiijiiu; llu-m. the (invcriior luit mi a "liravL- truiit." The 
ci'i>i> canu- I'cliniary 5th, H'.^i. A> ihi- (ii i\erni ir was dis- 
lril)ntiiin' with his own hands, tilt- hist handful of meal in 
the liari'el. tn a |MH.r man. distressed 1)\" hniiuier. the\ spied 
the ship at the iiarhi'i's month, laden with pri i\ isj, ms for 
them all. 1 )n aeeoiint <<{ the fluatini;' ice in the harbor, ilie 
ship anchored olt Lono- Island, .she had on Imard _>0 im- 
niiuj'rants and 200 tons (if l;oim1s. I'ocjd was inimediateh' 
carried 1)\" hoats to tlie star\ inu; colonists ami four d.av- 
liter ihe shi]) anchored otT the little settlement. "( »n tlie 
_'J<1 of I'^elirnary. 1(131. a day of lieiieral Thanksi^uim.; v.as 
held." The loii'.^ .and liittiT winter fiiialK' w'oi'e aw'a\ and 
with the comiiiL; of S]iriiiL;". they commenced to look for 
Land whit h would \ ield an ,ide<piate return in aL;riciiItiire. 
The l.iiid of I'.oston was too iine\en aiul rocky for ciiltna- 
tiou. I-'arnis were apportioned to the settlers liorderin^ 
on the ('liarles, Mystic and Xeponset ri^-ers. and crops wen 
planti-d. The ( "io\ eruor h.ad one ,assii;ned to him on the 
Mystic ri\ er of scxeral hundred acres, exteiidim.; from 
C'harlestown to where Medford now stands. He l)nilt a 
sulistantial stone f.armhouse. where he spent most of hi- 
tiine in .^nnmier and called the place the "Ten Mills" he- 
caiise ten wi-11 defined hill< were \isilile from it. lie Iniilt 
.111(1 l.innched on the Mystic, a craft of ,V' tons, which he 
cliristeiied "Tlu' iUessiuL; of the Hay." in which he made 
\iiva,L;es, on tin- linsmess nf the Colony. i;('i".i^' I'-.i'-t to the 
coast of Maine, .iiid west as far as .\ew ^ ork. Into his pri- 
\ate life wcie to come happier d.avs. for in .Voxemher 1(1,^1. 
his wife, whom he wa- olilii^ed to le;i\e heliind 111 Iuil;- 
laiid. arrived with four of his children. It was a time of re- 
joicing; in tin- little C( dony. 

W luMi the ship an-i\cil ulT the town, she was sainted with 
artilleiw. The ( lo\ enior. on laiidim.;. \\as houoiawl with a 
-n.ird. .111(1 most of the peojde from the ne.irlix planta- 
tions came 111 to wadcoiiie him. and hroULiht and s(_-iit for 
da\ s. L;Teat stores of prox isidus .-md fat hoL;s. ]<i<ls, \ enisoii. 
]ioultr\, L;eese. p.irtridL;es, etc.. s, 1 as the like joy and mani- 
festations of lo\ c. h.id never been seen m .\'ew l-'.nL;land. 

"The ne-xt da\ the following; entry appeared in the Go\ - 
ernor"s I)iar\': '\'o\ ember 1 1. W C kept a day of Thanks^iv- 
iny- ill Hoston." 

The next few \cars. wliile full of Labor and care for ("io\ - 
enior ^^"intllrop. appear to lia\e been jirosprrous and h.ip- 



ll'tilks ami liilL-s .ih,nil llistonc Boston. n 

|)\'. lie iiuw t\-lt that Xcw lui.i;laii(l was his hunu-. his 
cniintrv, for when he left l^n.i;hind his niaiujr huii^e in 
(irutiin was sohl. lie receued nu salar\- as (jiivenn t. and 
when re(|iiested 1)\ the freemen for an acciiuntiiii;, he cnn- 
fcinnded them l)y slidwing- that he had spent ont of hi> .lun 
jKieket fur the Ljood (if the eimimnnity Sluxio a j^cnid ]iarl (if 
his fditnne. lie wa- trnl\ tlie > <\\v man. the mainstay, lie 
•^nrrdiinded himscdf with '-trunL; men. His justice and 
hrii.idmindednes^ made him, at all tunes, a tdwer (il 
strenL^th. In I'l.U. 'i representatix e l;( '\ ernnient was es- 
talilished in Ma'-saehusetts. the second m America. 



At tlii^ time in I'n-l.ind there was ,i \ iolent struggle for 
power lietween the monarch and the people. Many of those 
wh(p lo\ed peace and (pn'et and foresaw the coming srijrm. 
fled to .\merica. I )nrnig the \ ear Mi,^5. lln-ee thon^and 
settlers went to .Massachnsetts I '.ay, among tliem m.iny 
men of wealth, influence and discretion. The Colony at 
that time was sdinew li.it e.xciteil o\ er the tlieological dis- 
]nites, Roger \\ illianis taking; .111 ,icti\e and leading part 111 
dissenting from the I 'iirit,iiis, W inthrop otten teniiiered 
some of the harsh laws 1 if the t'oloiix with ,-| merciful mild- 
ness in their exiHiitioii. ( )n ■ me occ.isidu. it was reported 
to him that a man h.id lieen stealing Iri'in his winter's store 
of firewcod and he was urged to punish him. "I will sddii 
imt a stop to th.it practice," said the (i(i\eriior sieriih . lie 
sent for the oltender. 'A'ou lia\c a large f.amily." he s^id 
to the culprit, "and I lia\c ;i lar.'e iiia:a/'iij oi wood. 1 dme 
as olten as \ cm please and take as much id it as \ 011 need 
to make your dwelling conifortalile." I'hen turning to the 
accusers, he said. ".\ow 1 defy him to steal any more ot ni\ 
tirewdod." In those earh days there was ,1 iirosperous 
Commerce lu-twceii .Mass.ichusetts and the West Indies 
Islands, .and as ,1 result of the trade much liullion .lud un- 
coined gold and siK 1. 1 was lirotight to the Colon\ and a 
.Mint was estalilished in Massachusetts in l'i3-' and sJKit 
Coins of the denominations of three |ience, six pence and 
twelxe pence, or sliilHug, were issued and this was the first 
Coinage within the territory of the I'nited ."states. ( Imv er- 
nor W'inthrop who w.'s re-elected ruled wisely. Like I'.r.id- 
ford of the I'lyiuonth (.'olony. he courted the frieiidshi]) of 
the sumiunding Indians, .and chiels ;md s.acliems from the 
Moheijans nu the dist.int llndsnu Rixer. dined at his talile. 



1^ ll'alks am! Talks .Ihaiif llisloyic Hostoil. 

riu-y tdid limi i>i' tlu' ln'autilnl CuiiiK-cticut \ alley, and 
iiuitrd him [<< send si-tll(.r> there. There al>o niiyht ha\e 
lieeii --eeii the mhi i if ihe ai_;ed Lannnicu>, his ne])he\v, 
.\l iantondiiii ih. the hrilliaiit vhuhl; ehief cil' the .\arra<_;an- 
>ell>. and the representative "l" the Xipnuieks and W'ani- 
pancaL'.s, with AlassaMiit, the ;;reat chief eif the latter na- 
ti'in. W inthriip aUn enltixated friendly relations with 
neiL;hli' irinL; --ettlenients and distant eolonies. At the thne 
(if his (li-ath he li\ed in the twn stnr\- huuso (in Washington 
Street ii]i]i(isite ScIkk d Street. 

There were no religions ser\iees at funerals at that ue- 
ii(i(l (if (Uir t_'(il(inial history. Uew John ( dtton |ireached 
a sermon in respect to ( io\ ernor W inthi'op on a Special 

I'ast Day held liy the church during his la^t illness. .\(j 
religious services were necessary, howexer. to mak(.' the 
(iccasion of (loveriior W'inthrop's death a solemn one. The 
portrait of ( loxernor W inthrop. which Ikiul;- on the wall 
of the Senate Chamlier in the State House on I'.eacon Mill, 
represents a tine lookiu;^- man, his countenance heainin.L;' 
with intelliiicnce and Ljoodness. Re.ijardint;- this ])ortrait, 
there :i|ipe;irs in the memoranda of the \\'inthr(ip Family 
the following; incident. "( )ne of the l'e(piot .Sagamores, 
who knew ( i( i\ im'ik ir W inthi'op, cinnin^' t(i llostou after his 
de.ith, went into the room where the portrait was, and see- 
ing, it ran out, \ er\ much surprised, e.xclaiininL;, "lie is 
ali\ e ' I le is ali\e !" 

In a Inisy part of the old town of I'lostoii, which he 
fonndefl and which he |(i\ed, under the shadow of (piaiut 
old KinL;S ('hapel. lie the mortal remains of thi~- tnih L;reat 
and l;(i(i(1 man. His mor.al was e(pi.all\ developed with 
hiv reliL;ioU'- nature. lie was auiialiK-, kind hearted, sym- 
pathetic, serious and truthful. lie w;is gentle in tem|ier 
and free from \ iudictu enc'-s. (ieiierou-- in forL;i\ Iiil;- the 
ern ii'-- of others, he w.is maijuanimi nis in confessing hi> 



Josiah (juincy well said: "llad I'.oston, like Rome, a 
C(insecrate<l calendar, there is no name hetter entitled than 
that of W'inthro]) to he rei;isterrd a^ its ■"r.itrou Saint " 

( )n Shirley Street, in the town of W inthrop, stands the 
I >eaue \\'inthro|i 1 louse. 

The hou-^e was linilt hy I )eane, the sixth s( ,u of ( iov er- 
itor W inthrop, ,iliout the \car 1(141), and is a t\pic;il Co- 
lonial f.irm lion^e. It i^ still in a fair state of pre^ere.ation. 



Walks aiiil Tiilhs Abitiil Historic Boston. i.l 

altliiiii^li it lia> w catliLTrd the sIdiht- and suns ni cncr 
twci IniniliTil and st-xcntv-tivc years. The I )eane \\ inthrup 
Cliapter (if the Dati.Ljliters of the American Ivevohition 
have met there ancl are makinj; efforts tn lin\ the property. 







tlfif STtrirnirnt of DorrfjcGtrr diiD 
9?iittiip(innorK (S)ontlj ©oGtoni 

TIk- first M-tlliTs of Maltapan nr I )(]rclK'sti.T caiiir troni 
l>r\nii. |)..rsL-t and SdiiK-rx-l in I'.n^laml. (in the jolli of 
Manii. Id:;.!, tlif (. mnpanv srl sail (in the shi]i ".\lai\ ami 
jiihn" lit" 400 tons, cdniinandnl li\ I a])fain S(|ncl>. Thcv en- 
'■i>nnl(.'i\'(l a viulrnl stdrni on iheir passaj;c. Inif sa\> one of 
llicir innnlier ■■flicx cam.' hy the -nor] hand of ihc Lord 
Ihnui-li flu- deeps com fc jrtalilw" In a ])oeni wrUlen sjiorflv 
aftei'wanls hy ( .overnoi- WdleotI, son of Ko-er Wcilcott. one 
ol the passengers, some |iarti<adars of (lie voN.ii^e are nar- 
rated. This pot'ni nia\' lie foniid in the colleetions of the 
Ma-saehnsell-^ llistorieal Society, just a conjilel from the 
poem will show the nioti\es which actnated tho^e person^ to 
remo\-e to a w ilderness : 

■d\eliL;ion was the eanse that did onr hearts incline. 
\nd moved our fonnder^ to this ^reat desii^n." 

ll was on the Jtith of .\la\, old st\le Mi^d, that the ( om]ian\' 
arri\ed on the coast of .Massachnselts. It was the last da\- of 
the week and as the last rays of the setting- smi -ilde.l ihe 
land whiidi was in the future to he their home, thev were 
desn-ous lo land, that the resi of the Sahhath nu^i^ht not he 
disturhed. Ian the ( "aplain. not knowin- the channel, and 
fcirm- that there mi-lu not he a sufticienl dejith of water, 
declined to l.anil them and c.aM .inchor for the ni?;ht. The 
a,L;ieement wa-> that the ( apl,n)i should land them on the 
t harles Ri\ei-. lUu he failed lo keep hi- contracl and despite 
their rejieated prote-tatioiis ilu- whole coinpam was ohliL;ed 
lo land with their -ood- on the Lord's day al X.inlasket I'oint. 
Ilistorx informs us that the ( a]it.Mii was .-ifterwards olihL;ed 
lo p.iy dainaL;es for this act. 

Irom their known hahit- we ha\e no douhl that their hrst 
act on landing;, was to kneel in pra\er lo Mini who li:i<l thus 
far heeii a < iod to them. 



ll'alks iiiiil ItilL-s .IhonI llisti>ric J^os/oii. I5 

jiihii ( iMliain, ail (iM i)l:inUr, had Icfl ihr I'lyiiiuutli Colony 
and settled at \anla^l<rl, and a ftcrwaiil nnited with the 
Dorchester C'iini|ian\. '\'\n-\ ]>r(iciir('d a hual from this man 
and on Monda\ I'oieiuioii, (aplain Siuithcoat. Ro,t;er Clap and 
ei,L;ht other ahle l)ii(hrd iiuai were apimintcd to take the iioai 
and \isit Mishaw aiiiii. al the minilh of the Charles River, and 
isceitain wliether lhe\ CDiild lie aecoiiiniiidated. In the mean- 
lime iillier parties sailed n|i a liaw niiw called from that cir- 
ciim^iance, "'i 'Id I larlii 'i," and seeiiii; that the peninsula, now 
kniiwn as Siiulh lidsldii, was ,i fa\iiral)le place for the ])astur- 
a;^e of catlle. they iiiiiiiedialely decided lo settle in Mattapail, 
imw 1 )(irchestrr. I'.\- tlli-~ nn'aii'- the\ cimld enjciy the use of 
MaltapaniKick iSiuith I'.dslon ) as it \\a> then called li\ the 
Indians, I )iii-chester, tlierefme, nwes it^ eaii\- settlement to 
llie lunetils sn]ip(i--ed tn he L;anicd li\ ha\iiiL;- Mattapannock 
as a pasture Liroiind liir catlle. 

Mam lit the settlers ni |)(iichesU-r were |)ersiins of niite 
and ti.mire. Iiein- ili-mticil with ihr title of "Mr." which hut 
few in Ihiise da\s wrre. < )inti' a iiimilier nf lliesr men were 
traders and when llie\ lirst selected |)iirchester as their resi- 
ik'nce, inleiidiiiL; it as a place nf cniniiierce. They lirst settled 
near the .\'eck. Iietween .\latta]ian ,aiid Matta|iannock. and 
there liiiih their tnwn. ,\rri\ini^ in .\la\' tlie\' were too late tn 
dii am planting; for lli.at seasmi. and lhe\- soon came t" want 

III tile earl\ ]ian nf 1 1 p^^ i luead failed in e\er\ Imuse in th.e 
seltleiiieiit. except thai nf the (,n\eriinr. The penple ate mus- 
sels, clanis and L;rniiiid mils, and nf these even tlu'y h.ad hul 
,1 liinitt'd suppK. Xccustnined In the hest nf fare and to com- 
fnrtalile h.'ihilatiniis ii w,is ,a u;reat h,ardslii]i for these jiersons 
n\ L;nnd rank :md circnnistanci's in llieir n.itue cnnntry. Thev 
endured ,L;re.it snfferin^^s hut mnnniireil lujt. Their [)ri\-alion- 
.and snfferini^s ,are thus desi-iihcd h\ ( ';ipt,iin Rni^er I k'l]) in 
his Memnirs: 

■■( >, the hunger lli.it ni.aiu siillered ,aiid s.aw nn hope in the 
e\c nf re.asnii tn he supplied niiK li\ clams, mussels .and lish. 
We did (|uickl\ huild hn.its .and snnie went lishiui; : hut hread 
H.is with main .1 scarce thin;;, .and llesh ni .all kinds as scarce." 

r.elie\iii.L; ihal ( loil could ai<l ihein in their trouliles they set 
.ap.irl l''ehru,ary '> .as a day (U" f.islini^ and pr.i\er." I'.efnre the 
d.a\ came, Imwever, the\' were relieved Irnm their want and 
distress. ( lovenuir W iiithro|i, fnresi-eiiii.; ih.at prnvisions 
uniild he needed had sent tn Ireland fnr ,1 supply. ( )n the 
5lh nf l"ehrn,ar\. the shi]i I .inn arrived, laden with food, and 



T> I Talks and Talks Jboiit llistnnc Boston. 

l>re\ ciitcd tlu- ( . .l..iiy I'r. mi in-riNliiiiu; by fainine, .uid thus 
tlic'ith nf l\-liruar\ was uliM-ixcd a^ a ila\ mi' thankv'^i\ Iiil; 
and ].)ra_\cr in>tL-acl of a da\ nf I'ca'-tiiii;, 

What Roger L'la]> >a\^ in liis Mcmdirs of tlu- arrival of a 
sn|)])ly of ijrovisiiins is well worthy a place in this story of 
the early settlers of Dorchester and South lloston. "And in 
those days, in (uir straits, though I cannot sa\ ( li kI sent h 
ra\en to feed Us as he did the prophet Elijah, yet 1 can say 
tM the ])raise (if (.oil's glory, that he sent not oidy poor, rav- 
enoirs Indi.aus, which came with their baskets of com on their 
hacks, to ir.ade w Uh us. lint also sent shi])s from 1 lolland an..! 
Ireland with pro\isious. and Indian corn from X'irginia to 
snppl\- the wants of his dear scr\ants in this wilderness both 
foi- ti lod and raiment." 

In Id,:; I se\eral ships arri\ed from l'ji,gland bringing a large 
addition to the ('olon\, and increased their stock of provisions, 
as each \-essel lirought fnod fur the settlement. They ,gathered 
a bountiful harvest this yeai", and thon,gh they had enough and 
to s]iare. they practiced the strictest economy, not knowing 
what was before them. 

It is believed thtit the form of goxernnietit or town organ- 
ization which has pre\ailed in Xew haigland for o\er two 
centtiries had its origin in the town of 1 )orchester. In H'T,t,. 
the settlers began the practice of electing selectmen to |irovi(ie 
for the best interests of the (/olon\- and to pm mto i ipei-.itioii 
all laws that might be made. 

In .\ugust idj;:;, the Rew Richai'd .Mather arrived in I ioston. 
S;iys I'llake: "There came with him a great number of ,godlv 
people to settle here. There came with him ton passengers 
and 2,^ seamen, 23 cows and heifers, ;; calves and S mares, and 
none died by the way, though tlie\ met with as terrible a storm 
;is was almost e\'i'r heard of." 

.Mattapannock. now so wdiiable a ])art of the citv of lioston, 
was in those earl\' da\s, used onl\ as a pasture for cattle, and 
the first settlers did not consider it of sufficient value to be 
divided. .\ fence w.as built near the |iresent junction of 
l)orcbesler .\venue and l)orchesler .street in the district 
known as Wasbiuglou N'illage, and from thence ran a path- 
way to the .\eck, commanded liy a .gate, and persons were 
appointed to ihi\e the cattle to and from the pasture. Only 
a certain number of the people of norchester hail a right to 
use ^lattapannock .as a ]iasture. In \(<^J. according to the 
Town Records, 104 persons had tb.al right. In that list are 



Walks nil, I I oiks .Ihoiil Uistoiic lh)sl„ii. i; 

nunilicrcd sdinc n\ the inii^i illii>tri(]U> mm aiiKiiiL; llie Lulo- 
nisis. Si_-\rral l\i-|)rcsciitati\ os, three (}r I'mif C'aplaiiis. two 
C kTL;\ men. (|iiite a miniher of ( iooil Men ami iMasters, sent 
tlieir kine daily to South I'.oston to eat of the fat of the land. 
Amcin.L;- the names of the one hundretl and four we find sev- 
eral widows. There was Widow h'oster. Widow* Sneed and 
Willow I'urchase. h'ven L;(»od Richard Mather shared in this 
privile,t;e. .•md sent his hrindle to t;raze on the very ijround, 
perchance, where now stands the edifice called by his name 
and devoted to the acc|nisition of nsefid knowledge. It is 
difificult tor u^ In ini.iLjine the appearance ni .Snuth Hnstdn in 
those days. It was a ])eninsnla. or rather an island at hi^h 
water, covered with a rich u;rn\\th of t^rass. In some parts 
there were clumps of trees which afforded shelter for the kine. 
It is interestiuij to note some of the regulations made at 
various times by the town of Dorchester in reijard to the cat- 
tle to he pastured at Mattapannock. ■•.\])ril ,:;. K^v'^- If i-"^ 
orilei-e<l that for thi?. vear. onlv the oxen, niare^, .i^oats and 
youuj;- cattle shall be kepi at the .Xeck. and no man >hall keep 
any cow there, on pain of ten shillings for e\er\ cow so kept 
there contrary to this order." 

It i> plain that this last order \\as passeil to prevent persons 
from tiirniui; their cattle out to |>asture before the s^rass was 
of sutficienl growth to supplv then; with food. .\o division 
of the land in .Mattapannock seems to have l)een made until 
Hi4_>. When the iHvision was made the town reserved a por- 
ti(in for a common pasture. An\' ])erM)n had the privilege 
of .illowini; his cattle to Ljraze there b\ the jiayment to the 
town of a small lax. 

"In Mi,^7. the persons who owned land in .\latta|)annock 
wire oMii^ed to pa\ a l;ix of half a ]>enn\ on each acre ot 
])lowi.il land. 'I'he total aniomit thus assesed was iw shillini^s 
I) jience. showing; that about 475 acres was under more or 
less cidtivalion. There is ni.) doubt that the Peninsula was 
much liked and frei|uented bv the Indians. Powow Point 
at the south end of l\ Street and facint; Thomi)son's lslan<l 
is hiiLjhls celebrated in the history of our aboriLjines. llere 
the Indians were in the habit of holding' an annual feast. 
This gathering was in commemoration of a celelirated Indian 
Treaty which was of great ini])ortance to the early settlers 
and called together multitudes of the red men of the forest. 
It is said that during this feast, nothing was to be used but 
what came fidui the sea. I'".\'en tlu' w.ater was literallv taken 



Il'alks ami Talks About llistnru- Hostoii. 



fi-din tlir ocean ami drank fiuni clam slu-lls. Xear the centrt 
iif I'nwnw I'dint iv a ^pnnL; nf I'lcsli water, which at hi£;h 
tide is ciini])letel\ cii\ered In the -^ea. I'mni this source, the 
Inthans, in olden limes, procnred water U'V daily use. It is not 
known when the tir^t dwelling hon^e \\as erectc<l in South 
I'.o^ton. lint it was prohahK almni the vear Midn, h\- Deacon 
James I'.lake. an ancestor of the I'.lake fannly for so many 
\cars residents of that section. The site id' the hnildint;- was 
at ('it\ I'oint. In a will maile in l<"),v \\ e find mention of 
the house and in the \ear 17,^2. it was so impaired 1)y ac"e 
thai it was taken down and a new one erected on the same 
s]iot. (iinnected with the I'dake house was a lari.;e orchard 
of one hundred trees of ditYerent kinds. Another old house 
on the peninsula was the l-'oster I louse on the corner of l". 
:md I'onrth Streets opposite the school house. In the earlv 
fifties, the cellar of this house could still he seen. It was huilt 
soon after the I'.l.ake house, ahove referred to. dhi~ was the 
nearest house to I'.oslou .and in the earl\ settlement w.as the 
only house west of 1 )orchester Street. This residence had a 
tine orchai'd of peach, apple and jilum trees. In MiSi, Mr. 
lohu l-'o~ler. one of the fannly who resided in ."-^outh I'.oston. 
dieil. Inder the date id' that year m the ■'.XunaK" we find 
the following;: "Died. Mr. John I'oster. son of (aiitain llope- 
-lill I'osler. Schoolm.ister of Dorchester, .lud he that made 
the then .Seal or ,\rins of \e ( o|on\ , uamelw :m Indian with 
a liow ,ind arrow, etc. L'pou his tomh or ,L;"ravestone, is writ- 
ten, as follows : 

"The ln,L;enious Mathematician and 
1 'rinter 

.MR. j< iii.v i'( )S ri':k 

.\;.:ed ldiirt\-three Nears. Died Se]iteml)er wth. M .S 1 . 

.Mr. luster was a ,i;radtiate of 1 harwii'd ( ollci^e and was a 
ui.an of cousidcrahle note. The fni'eral was atter.ded liv ;i 
l.ir;.;r umnlier of mouiaiini; friends, and m accordance with 
the cu->toiii of the times the al'fiicled family received many 
eido,i;ies on the death of their lirolher. 

rile I'oster 1 louse was hnilt previous to the Ke\iilntion. re- 
]il.iciii:^- the oriu;inal house, alread\- s]ioken of. it was, in 
Its day, one of the most eleL;,ant houses in the vicinity of Uos- 
tou. It is related that in the earl\- da\s of the war, several 
( ontinental soldiers who strolled over to the X'eck were with 
dit'ficnlt\- restr.ained froiii ilestro\in" the house, thev thinking;' 



Il'alks and Talks About Jlistorir Boston. i', 

il 1)c1(jii:l;(.-i1 Ui a Torw as several of IIr- ronms were [japc-reil. 
a luxury almost unkiKiwn in thusc (la\>, ami lo tlirse Conti- 
nentals it was almost a sure si,i;n that the occujiant was a Tory. 

In the early part of 177<>. the weather was very eold ami 
the harhur \vas frozen over. The iee was very thiek and im- 
proving this op]">ortunity ahoni ti\e hundreil I'.ritish grena- 
diers and light infantry on the i,^th "f I'diriiary, emssed the 
ice to Matta])anni>ek. intending to surprise an<l capture the 
American general, and picket pi>st, stationed there, consisting 
of seventy men. TIrw \ei\ nearl\ succeeiled in their design 
lint the general escaped. X'ot wishing tn return withnut some 
exploit the\- set hre to se\eral Ik.iuscs on the Xeck, cajilnred 
t\vo prisoners and then returned. A delachnient of .\mericans 
was sent to attack them, hut the red coat-- escaped. .Xuioul; 
the houses destro\ ed was iju- ]irincel\ housv ot Mrs. I'oster. 
This conrtagration. wliolK un]iro\(iked and uncalled for, w.is 
one of the most dasl.irdh and wanton acts committed hy the 
I'.ritish ilnring their occupaniw of I'.oston. for the inhaliitauls 
of .\latta]),annock were (|uiel ,ind inoll ensi\-c. 

.Mr. j.-mu-s I'dakc, ihr son of the ongiu.d settler at tlie I'oml. 
died ui tile sixu-tlnrd \ear of his age. I lis sou succeeded 
to the estate and resided in the old homesir.ul. In the 
latter i^art of 1-73 he hecame fearful lest he shotdd re- 
cei\e injui"\ from the I'.ritish soldiers stationed at ( astle 
W illi.im ( |-'(irl I iide] icudence I who were m the hahit of visit- 
ing .Mallap.anuocls. .Se\er;d times his tauuK' were L;rossly 
insulted, and at last he was forced to remove to Dol-chester. 
leaving his Ikjusc and ]),iru at the mercv (if the eueni}-. ( lue 
day the old gentleiuau saw the red coats at the fort point theii' 
cannon toward the .\'e^■]^. and ihiukiug they were ahout to 
practice a little, he sent his eklest son to take the glass windows 
out of the homestead as there w.as great danger that the\ 
would he liroken 1)\- the concussion. 

The \()ung man iminedi:ilel\' mounted his horse and was 
soon liusih' eng:^'..;ed. .il)e\ing his f.ather's command, when a 
cannon hall ]iassed directly lliroiigh the window" in which he 
w,is ,11 work .and lod^^ed in the li.ick' wall of the house. h'or- 
tunaleh he was sloopin;^ lo reach something on the floor at 
the lime :iiid hc-iice escaped with his life. Soon another hall 
came whizzing; In the house ,iud passed very near the horse 
which stood tied to a tree ahout a roil from the house. The 
\-oung man thoiii^ht the Ihitish were heconiing too social and 
le:i\ing the windows to iheu' f.ile he spr.iug U]iou his horse 



-'o iralks and Talks .Ihoitt Historic Boston. 

anil returned witli all speed to Dorchester. Sixin after lln< 
a party uf British soldiers visited the I'oinl and placing a tar 
harrel a^ain^t Mr. lUake's hou>e, set tire to it and the house 
and liaru were totalK destroved. It was such acts of N'andal- 
isin on the part of I'.ritish soldiei's that niaile them corihali\ 
haled li\ the I'olonists. 

.Mr. James I'.lake who die(l in 1 7311. was one of the nK)st 
ilisini^nished pei'sons in Dorchester, lie was for many years 
Town Clerk and Town Treasurer, and for several years the 
principal Selectman. .\11 thest' offices he continued to fill till 
he was remlered incapahle of active duty b\ reason of sick- 
ness and inhrmitx'. lie was an excellent mathematician and 
tile most noted sur\eyor of his time. His |ilans were so ac- 
curate as to elicit inii\ersal praise and dnrini.; his life he .sur- 
veyed several whole towns. lie once made plans of every 
acie of land in Dorchester, and that when its territorial limits 
were nuich larger than now. .Many plans drawn l)y him are 
still in existence and show liy their eleg;ant construction the 
hand of a master workman. 

In those early days of Dorchester few names stand out more 
jirominentlv than l\o.L;er I. la]i. lie came to .Vmerica in I'l.^O, 
with the orii.;inal settlers in the ship "Mar\ ami John." In 
his memoirs he mentions that the passage from k'.ni^land was 
maile in se\ent\ da\ s, and the Word of ( iod was preached 
and expouuiled e\ery day d.urinu; the \dyau;e. I le was one 
of the fonmlers of the k'irst t'hnrch in Doichester and a mem- 
her for sixt\ \ears. We pause here to j;i\e a little historv of 
that ( hurch. 

The I'lrst Parish thurch, .Meetm.i; I louse Mill, Dorchester. 
is the (eldest reli.i^ious society in Boston. It was organized 
in I'Kinouth. England, March 20, i')30. the eve before the 
emhark.ation of the first settlers of Dorchester in the ship 
".Mar\- .and John." |(jhn .\kn'erick and John Warham were 
the first pastors. The church held its first religioirs service in 
.America in the open air in Dorchester the .Sunday after their 
settlement in June i'>,^o. Their first church edifice was a log 
house with palisades as a protection against the Indians, .and 
it stood at the corner i.if Pleasant and Cottage Streets. 

A larger and more expensive structure was erected in M 14,^ 
In I'ljo this building was moved to Meeting Mouse Mill, 
which hill derives its name from the chm-ch, which, for nearl\- 
J511 \ears has been located there. In 1(177 -i "ew house of 
wiu'ship was erected whiidi cost £ji).i and this was lepl.aced 



Walks .inJ Talks About llisforir n,>stoii. -'i 

l>v anotluT Ntnictiirc in 174,, which sIockI until iSiii. On 
Fehruary 3. iSi/i. this nnhle lamhiiark wliich had stood for 
80 years was dc^trovcd 1)\- hrc and the ])resent edifice is as 
nearly as pos^iMc a cluplicalc and is the fifth church huildinq' 
which has ^Umd (in that sjxit. Includini;" .Ma\crick and W'ar- 
hani and Iwd C(iad)ut(irs wild assisted Rev. Richard Mather, 
this church had only ei.^ht minister> in -'30 years id' its lii>- 
tory. The h'-l is as follows: Richard .Mather, 3,^ years; Jii- 
^iah l-lint. m \car>: John Danfnrth, 4S years; Jonathan I'.'iw- 
man. 44 \cars; Moses Mveretl, H) years; Thaddeus Ma^nn 
llarn>, 4J, Near^; and Nathaniel Hall, 40 years. Tlu' old ln.-ll. 
oris^inally cast in l-".n,i.;laud in 1731, which was so l)adl\ cracked 
in the lire of iSijd wa^ recast and now liaui.;s in the lieltrv. 
All the old inscriptions were reproduced ni the new casting;. 
Ro.i^^er ('la]i was an acti\e and lilieral su]ipoiter of this 
church all his lite. I le was an active man in town and state 
ati'airs filliuL; important offices in the town from 1(137 to 1(1(13. 
lie was lieutenain of the 1 )orchester Trainini; I'.ands in l('44. 
.\ lieutenant in the Artillery Tompauy ui 1(133 and a re|ire- 
sentati\e to the ( ivUeral I'ourt lor fifteen \ears. lu 1(131) the 
( leneral ( otnl L;ranteil him five hundred acres of land. After 
the death of ( aptain Davenport in 1663, the ( ieneral L'ourt 
ap])ointed (aptain Rotter (lap to the command of Castle 
William which he held until idXd, when he resi^ued. .\ little 
.iccount of I'astle William, now known as I'ort lnde]ieiideuce, 
m,i\- he interestin.L; in this eonnectiou. "( )n a little island m 
the harlior, the first settlers in and near I'.oston, liuilt a fort 
for their defence iu |nl\ 1(134. It had walls of e.irtli and it 
w:is i;i\eu the name of ( '.istle William. In i'14,^ the nuul 
walls ha\iii;^ i^oiie to dec.ix , the tori was rehuilt with |iine 
trees and earlli under the siiperintemlence of L'aptaiu Richard 
Davenporl, who ^vas appointed to command it. In a little 
time that deca\e<l and a small c.istle of hrick was huilt. having- 
three rooms in it. ,1 dwelling; house helow. ;i lo<li;ius;- room 
over it. and a i.;un room o\er thai, wherein were six onns, 
called sacker i^tins and o\er it u]ioii the top. three lesser <;uns. 
"Such was the condition when ( lod was pleased to send a 
.grievous storm of thunder and liu;htiuii!; which did some hariii 
in I'loston," s.ivs Ro^er (. l,i]i in his .Memoirs, (aptain l)av- 
eiiport. weary hy severe duty, li.id retired in a room separated 
from the powder ma.^azine by a thin ]i;irtitioii and while asleep 
was killed by a Hash of liijIituiiiL;, u<i m;iterial damage beint;; 
done to the C'astle. The Castle ;is it stood, cost al)out £4000. 



22 ll'alks 011(1 I'lilks .Ihmit Historic Boston. 

In 1663 tlic ( iciuTal Lourt ijassed a l)ill allowing two barrels 
of powder per aiiiuini "for saluting' of ships" at the Castle. 
This Castle was burned by accident in ii>j2 and a new fort of 
stone was erected having four Ijastiou^ ami armed with thirt\- 
eight guns. The l)astiotis were lont; kudwu li\ ihe names of 
"The Cniwn," "The Rose." "The Koyal" and "The Kliza- 
lietii." In iS(i4 a direct de^cendant cjf the Roger (lap famdy 
served a^ .''Sergeant of a ( umpany doing garrison duty during 
the Ci\n War, .Serjeant I )a\nl Capen Clap]i (if the b'irst 
L'nattached (. ompanx .Mas^achusetts \"cilunterr Militia. 

"Lapi.iiu l\nL;er ( lap w.in (if the ultra I'uritau ScIkkiI and 
by no means tolerant of tlie inu(i\ atidus attem]ite(l 1)y the 
.\ntimonians and Ouakers. It is said (if him th.it his soldier- 
were treated as if they were of his own f,iiiul\ and none were 
]iermitte(| to be enlisted, but ]iious as well as bra\e men. .So 
greatl\- was he lieloxed liy the people of Dorchester that m 
the \ear 1(1711, "when t;iken sick the\ kept a da\- of fasting 
and pra_\ er, t(.i beg his life of ( .o(k and when lie recowred .1 
(la\' ot rh,anksi;i\ mj;." lie died hebnuuw _'. Kkiii. and hi- 
L;ra\f stone in the ( haiiel ( .ronnd is standing on which In- 
n;ime is |il;iinl\ leu:ible. 

The eai'ly settlers of I )(ii-chesier were ,1 remarkable li(.)(l\- 
of men, lir,i\e, intelligent, liliert\-lo\inL; ami ( .od- fearing .and 
many of the descendants are siill residinu; in r.oston and \i(-iii- 
it\. The names of I'.l.ake. ( l.Lp|i. (.'a]ieu. ( lenient, I >ickerinaii. 
I '\'er. I )uiicaii. hanisw (iilb, henn. Il,i\deii. Ilawes. Ilill. 
I I iiin]ihre\s joiies. Knight, Kiiisjev, .\liniil, Xils .Smith. Sum- 
ner. Swift. 'Wade. Wales, Weeks, Whitman, Wi-well Wil- 
l^llls, \\ ilInin.;ton and \\"n-bt, .are all found in that e.arh- b.-iml. 

-Mr. IdoUKw 111 111- excellent hi-toiw of .South I'.oston, 
.awards lo I )orcliesier the honor of ha\iiig the fii'st ]niblic 
school in America, lie s;i\-,: '■( )ne of the most important and 
in'storic il entries on the Record I '.00k of the l^orchester of the 
early (kiys is the order ] iriAidiui; for a fi'ce school, the first 
free public sehool in America. Thompson's Island, lloslon 
Harbor, was gr,iiite(l to I lorchester in Mi.U. b\ the ( iencral 
Court. .M.ay 31 1. Ki.^ii, the town vnteil to l.i\ a town lax upon 
the proprietors of the l-land for the iiiaitilenance of a school 
in Dorchester. The Dorchester Free I'ublic .School was 
the firsl to receive sn]i]Hirt from taxation, .and also the brsi 
school lo be directly in charge of a school committee. 
The tii'si -cliool lions-' w.as erected in the \icinit\- of .Meetini.: 
Il(ins(.- Ilill and \\,as a sm.all oiu--stor\ structure. The first 



Walks .111,1 Talks .Ihoiii Historic Boston. 

scIkioI was naiiKMl ai'tcr llir minister ni I hat iicriod. l\cv. 
Riciianl Mallior and trcini tliat da\- l<i this (licrc has hct'ii a 
Alathor School in the (hstrict." 




SV.Wf/rrfv/. Cliirf ,,/ III,' l',:,l„,jl s 



Ijom "Cfjfj' DrroGcD iinO i?ott) "Ctjcp 2.itif0 ants CQorKcO 

III a hook ]>ul>li>lK-il 1iy Rt-v. Charles llrooks. a very inter- 
esting account is L;iven of the costumes, the daily routine, and 
the \-arious occu])ations of the earh' settlers of Dorchester. 
It shows that each had his or her work to do in the tiphuild- 
ing of the town, each laliored for the pceneral welfare of the 
commmiity. They did th.eir work willin£;Iy and uncomplain- 
ingly. The Church of ( iod stooil high in their esteem and the 
greatest care was taken to have every one attend its services, 
that the\" might li-ten to words of wisdom and make good and 
worth\- citizens. We i|Uote from this hook: — 

C( »STL'.MES. 

"The every day dre>s \\a^ jilain and cc.imforlahle. hut Sini- 
day suits were quite elahorate and expensive. The men, on 
.Sunday wore broad-hrimmed hats, turned up into three cor- 
ners, with loops at the side, showing full bush wigs beneath 
them, long coats, the very ojjposite of swallow tails, having 
large jxicket folds and cuffs, and without collars, the buttons 
either jjlated or of pure silver, and of the size of a half dollar. 
The vc-~ts. also, without collar>. were long with graceful 
pendulou> laj)])ed pockets. The shirts had bosom and wri^t 
ruffles, with buckles at the wrist united by a link. The neck 
cloths or scarfs were of tine linen or figured stuff, or em- 
broidered, the ends hanging loosely. Small clothes were in 
fashion, ;;nd only reached a little below the knees, where tliev 
were ornamented with silver buckles of liberal size. The legs 
were covered with gray stockings, and the feet with shoes, 
ornamented with strajis and >ilver btickles. Boots were some- 
times worn having liroad white tops, and gloves were also in 
fashion, on great occasions, and mittens in winter. .\ gentle- 
man with his cocked hat and white bush wig, chocolate coat, 
buft vest and small clothes, brown stockings and black shoes, 
ruffles, Inickle- and l)uttons, pre.-eiiteil an imposing figure. 



Walks and Talks .-Ibout Historic Boston. -5 

and he was a man wlio would probably demean himself with 
dignity and intelligence. Rich men dressed very expensive!) . 
They had a scarlet coat, wadded shirts, full sleeves, cufi's, 
reaching to the elbows, wristbands, fringed with lace, em- 
l)roidered bands, tassels, gold buttons, vests fringed with lace. 
and small clothes with pufts, points, buckles, and a sword 
hanging by the side. The visiting dress of the women was 
more costly, complicated and fancy than their husbands and 
brothers were. Their coiffures were so high as to bring their 
faces almost into the middle of their bodies. They wore black 
silk or satin l)onnets. and their gowns were extremely long 
waisted. with tight sleeves, which were oftentimes very short 
with an immense frill at the elbow. They had spreading hoops 
and long trails, high heeled shoes, and dressed in their bro- 
cades, flounces and embroidered aprons. They were pre]iared 
for any social function. Their dress on the Sabbath was sim- 
ple, secure and modest. A cheap straw hat. with only one 
bow on the outside, and no ornament inside, topped oft the 
head. .\ calico dress of sober colors, high up in the neck, 
with a simjile white muslin collar, just peeping aroun<l the 
loj). a neat little shawl, and a stout pair of shoes, and the\ 
were dressed readv for church. 



IIAIUTS AXn DAILY ROITIXR. 

To understand the habits and daily routine of the people. 
it may be well to follow a family of moderate circumstances 
throughout their duties on a Saturday and Sunday. The 
father is a strong, able-bodied tanuer of forty-six. and hi> 
wife seven years his junior. Their first child is a son of 
eighteen, and the next a daughter of sixteen. Then there are 
three bo\s, fourteen, eleven and eight, and the youngest child 
is a daughter of six. C)f hired men they had none. Extra 
help came from what they called ■'change work." Before 
davlight Saturday, the entire family was awake and about 
their morning oblations. The father awoke first, lighted the 
fire under the kettle, in which the water lor the porridge was 
to boil. Then he called the boys and family, the mother and 
eldest daughter, followed shortly afterwards by the youngest 
of the family. .\ wooden wash basin in the sink served each 
in turn, and one roller towel sufficed for wiping all the faces. 
With all tile sturdiness of their nature thev --et about their 



I!\ilks and Talks .lb,n,t llistoru- Hostoii. 



diilii's. The (lI■e^s of each wa-. Miitcil to thrir woiis. Thi.' 
tallicr \\(irc an n\<\ cdckcil hat, nv a thick cutton cap. no cra\al, 
hut a low ^Inrt collar, a -hori frock of strongest warp, a pan 
of olil Ic.iihcr hi-ccclic^. ,inil k•L;L;ln^ which were tucked in 
aho\e the knee^, ami tied o\er the ^lioe-. with a strinu;. round 
the middle of the fool. The hov-, h.i.l cotton cap-, or the 
reniiiant- of old felt hats, short jacket- of the current fahrio, 
leather hreeches and le^.^in-. jii-t as the sun rose over the 
hcii'izon. the father anil hi- three sons were in the cow yaril 
niilkiiij;-. Then the \(>unu;est hoy dro\e the cows t' i pasture, 
across to Dorchester Xeck. repiaceil the hars, ami hastened 
hack to his next duties. The hoys had recei\-ed their allow- 
■ iiice of Imttei-inilk. and the inornini.;- nnlk was strained oil 
for the cream, oi- heateil to hei^iu a cheese. Returning to the 
house all ]oined in the reailiuL; <d' the .Scriptures, .itter which 
the\- had hreakfast. which, in wnitc-r. w;is h\ candle lii;ht, and 
in summer. h\- d.'iwn. The father asked dix'ine hlessiiiL;'. and 
then all ate heartily of the ]ie,i ]iorrid-c. dealt out in sm.all 
wijoden IhjwIs, and from .i small central dish some salted shail 
.and smokc-d alewi\es. or ]iei'h.ips si,nie fresh eels. c.ui,L;ht from 
the ha\ the eNenin::^ lielore. I'.rown hread and heer weie 
sei-\ed. .Mid someluiies the children were n-^aled with samp 
and milk. \fter hreakf.ist the father returned thanks. k'a- 
iher and the sons then returned to the tielils for work, the 
hour heiiiL; d o'clock. W itli their tools they took the family 
L;un, more to he re.id\ for ;4,'une th.'in for jiroteclion. L'v ^.3(1 
the lahoi'ers were i-e.id\ for lunch, which cousisleil of sniokeil 
sh.'id. hread and cheese eaten Iroin the hasket m which tlie\' 
hrotiu;ht il, and cider. 1 )iiriuL; the forenoon the\ did much 
work and were ,L;l.id of a respite when the\ heard the diniK-r 
horn at 1 1,43. |usi .at noon tluw sal ilowu to the dinner tahle. 
a hlessuiL;" w.as cr;i\'e<l .and the\' hci^.an witii the Indian pud- 
diiiL; which the\ rehslu'd with a little molasses. Xext a ]iiece 
of hroiled s.alt ]".rk. or htack l.rotli. fried e^-s. hrowii hread. 
cahha^e and cider. The dinner was st\led "hoiled \ ictuals." 
and the plates "wdoden Ireiichers." I'ntil ime o'clock the 
lahorers were allowed to ikjou. .and were free to sleep or 
pla\. Then the\ returned to the tield, .and perh,i]is found 
that a fox had killeil a shee]i. The father took the >;un, and 
started in ]inrsuit. lea\ini.; instrnclioiis i| the hovs saw the 
fox to whistle ,is loud .is ihe\ coiild. At 3 o'clock there was 
a drink ot heer. tor ,ill, the onh ]i.inses in the .ifternoon's work 
which c-nded .at li\i'. 



ll'alks aiiit I'lilk's .Ihoii/ Historic nost„n. -'7 

Then tho ymiiiiL^X'st cIinjm- Ikiiiu- the ciiw-. .iiid llu- niilkiiiL; 
finished at six. 'J'lie 1ii)l;s ami slieep were put in their enclnN- 
ures and the faithful doi^ left td watch theui for the ni;;hl. 
Everything;' well Imused up, su|)|ier \\a> ready. The father 
took a slice of cold broiled pork, the usual brown bread and 
beer; while the bovs had milk ])orrid,L;e or hasty puddinu;. In 
season the\ hail niusk ukIihis, and on (iccasion^, cherry wine. 
Sometimes the\- had biiileil Indian corn, mixed with kiiliu'\- 
beans. Intu 1)e;m ,-md pe.i purrnl^e they put a slice nf salted 
venison. The\' also (leliL;lUed in succotash. The me.-il i>f the 
shagbark was drie<l and pounded and put into the porridgi- lo 
tliicken it. llakeil pumpkins were common. The exlr.i di-~h 
for com|ianv was a cake made ()\ strawberries and parclud 
corn. Supper, like the other meals. \\,is preceded b\ .asking 
a blessing and li\ otTerini; th.inks. .\l 7 o'clock a nei^libor 
called, a mui; of ciiler \\;is ilrunk ]i\ way of enterlaunnent, 
and at y.},o the neighbor h.ul L;one, and llie f.uuily were rea<l> 
for eveniu!.;" pravers. In the uiorniiiL; the ( Md rest.iment w.is 
read and in the e\euinL; the .\ew. l'',it;ht o'clock and all had 
retired, excepting the \dun.L;est lio\ who had been u;i\en per- 
mission to stav u]i .in hour later. .Mother :iiid dauL;lUers h,id 
likewise their routine. The house consisteil of two corner 
rooms, below, and a kitchen .and twn lofts, used as attics for 
slee])in|.; rooius. These rooius were Iml little c.ire. .and the 
beds cotdd be m.ade in a sIkmI time. Allei' that lireaklast was 

cooked and set with wcioden pl.ites, peweter s] ns, two ]<ui\es 

and forks and the i;oo<l thiiiL;s e.iteu. the wciuien washed the 
dishes, and (.)ne of the d.in^liters ])re]>ared the men's lunch. 
Then the cheese was made witli .L;real care. Saturday was 
bakiuL; da\ and the three females were Iscpt p.irlicul.irh busy. 
The o\en had its o]ieuini.; on the outside of the house. Iiehiiid 
the chiniuex, anil w.is double the si/.e of modern ones. ( )iu' 
daughter brought wood to heat the oven, another ;..;ot Indian 
nie.al and rye, and ;i third brouL;ht in a pail of w.iter. There 
were beans to be ])icked and ]iork to be cut and doUL;h to i)e 
kne.aded. The bakiiiij for seven d.i\s re(|uiie<l tliiei- hours" 
sle.idv work'. In the afternoon, the house beini; nice and tid\, 
the mother ilid scjiiie weaving, the elder daui^hter .1 liltle 
mending;', .and the child stole aw,i\ to |>l.i\ with her ]iet lamb. 
.\ female neitjhbor called to imite her frieiuK to a "i|niltiiiu;" 
and the anticipation of the event m.ade the yonuL; folk- happy. 
When the brothers returned for sii|)|ier the (|ui]tiiiL; was 
announced. 



-* irulks ami I'alks .Ihout Historic Boston. 

With the settin.n- of the siin tlie Sahhath was bfi^iin. All 
.L;atlK'rc(l ahdut the (lomestic altar and the pious father read 
the Scriptures and offered praver. 

The hour fi'r rising; was late, ami uothiuL; like hurrv was 
known. After the iiiilkins;- and the chores there was breakfast 
at which there was usualK' a sni-prise with a fresh baked 
apple pie. h.ach of the vouiil; lolk-- took a slice in hand and 
ininie(hatel\ proceeded to liU'-iiiess. .\fter breakfast there was 




hiirli/ Srillrrs diiiini In Chi. 



niorniiiL; wiirshi]i. The father took down the I'.ihle and read. 
With all standin-, the father olTcri-d a ]ira\er thankin.u the 
i.uer of every ujdod, for his l)ouiiti(.'s, confessed his sins with 
penitence and humility and asked for pardon throutjh a Divine 
Redeemer, i le took care to thank i lod for the relitjaous free- 
dom enjoyetl in America. l)nrinu; the hour that then elapsed 
before the start for nieetini; the children coinniitted to meni- 
iir\ a few verses of the I'dble, or a luiiin. or a jiage of the 
< atechisiu, and tile mother taui;ht the dan,i;hter some Chris- 
tian histor\. The hour ha\'inu; arri\eil, the start was made for 
the nieetiiii; house and no matter what the distance to that 
plai-e may have been, there was no excuse for non-attendance. 



Hulks anil l.ilk-s .llxnil Historic Hrston ag 

I lod's coninianil and llic penalties nf llic Statute law deeideii 
this witlunit eiiuivocation. If the weather wa> lair, the chil- 
dren walked, each dressed in full Sunday attire, and feehui; il 
of paramount importance, not to tear or --oil their clothe>. 
The father moimted a horse and took his wife iiimu a pillory 
hehind him. If it rained the oxen were huelied to a cart and 
seated therein they made their way to meetin;.;. Services 
began at i i and were a glass and a half long, ending at i-'.30. 
A half hour intermission was s])ent about the meeting house 
where friends met and talked of what had occurred since the 
last Sabbath. The voting folks, doubtless, did not always talk 
religion. 

The .ifternoon ser\ ices were from i to _'.,V) and an lioui' 
later the faniiK reached home. All |j,uti>ok of the meal then, 
which was realh' dinner and supper, ,iiid from the o\eii was 
taken the pot of beans. Indian i)uddmg. all perfectly done. 
ha\ing been in pris(]ii twentv-four hoiiis. After grace the 
pudding was first seiwed. That was so nice that two slices were 
necessary to satisf\ . d'hen there was a piece of pie. After 
.Sunday clothes were remo\c<l, the mother assembled her chil- 
dren about her, cicli seated on his block, .iiid heard them re- 
cite the catechism, anil then endeavured to impres.. their minds 
with the sermon of the ila\. Idle religious exi'rcises of the 
Sabbath were concluded with the readiiii; of the Scrijilures 
and family prayer. I ather and son then went to the b.ini and 
tile milking was soon tinished. With the setting of the sun the 
.Sabbath was over. 

The wool! for the next day's washing w.is carried in, the 
great kettle filled with water, and e\erything ready for .111 
early st iit. In the evemng the eldest son slipi)ed out. clad in 
his evening dress, and .it 7 o'cli)ck "dropped in " accidenlalK . 
at neighbor As house. \\ hose bloomiiiL; (Laughter of 17 he 
enjoyed w, itching. I'he \'isit w,is short and he then returned 
home. .\t home the children had been U'd in singing the L;ood 
old ])salm times, and at 8.,^() the candle was out and the day of 
rest and worship had ended to the farmer's familv. In those 
da\s the sini..;inL; selmol was ilie favorite social function and 
•all delighleil to participate. 

( )iir fathers hail strong common sense and while they were 
devoted In a I'urilan faith, .-ind .111 exclusive church, they did 
not lose their hmnanitv, but the veiv necessities of their con- 
dition brought tlieiii to the most pr.actical results :m(l to the 
soiimk-st pliiliisii]ih\ nf life. 



30 ll'allcs an, I Talks About llistori,- li,, stall. 

rill-, I AiRi'.AXKs ii()L'si'; i.\ i)i-:i)ii.\.M. 

I Iif lairlianks l'aini!\' laiikb anmnL; tlu- \ cry iil(,k---t m 
tin- I'lirilaii Culuny ul Ala>sachliu>ctth I'.ay. h n' as carl\ as 
H'.^.v w r liiid twii 111 the iiaiiK- nii tlir n.-ciird> — Richard 
I-'airliankc and hi-- wife I'.li/ahcth. caiiic m\ cr that \ cai' and 
n 1- generally h(dic\ cd that thc_\ came "U ihc l;i " kI -hi], 
"linitin." llic \ csscl which l)niUL;ht i '\ cr the rcn^'wucd 
preacher. Rev. John CCitlnn. to tliese shores. Sava-e. the 




■flu i;,i,hn„l.s llf.Hsi, I!, nil ni \UW\. I),,ll,,i,„ 



hi--i.u-ian, tell> u- tliat "Richard ami hdizaheth hairehanke 
siL;neil 'ye cnxenant mh tlu' Stli nmnth I'l,^,^,' i in the >aiiie 
ikiy with h'lik-r I.e\erett ami hi^ wife. ( Idveriioi' I'.rewster. 
and l-'dw.inl 1 IntchinMin." 

Richard l';iireliaid<e al > aice tmik an .icli\e l)ai-t in the 
affan-- nf die inf.ant Cdloiiy. lie joiiied the .\ncient and 
Ih'niirahle Arlillerv ('(ini|ian\. where he n ■-^e tn cnnsider- 
.ilile prciinineiice and ha-- ihe lii.nur of heitiL; the tir-t ]Mi>t- 
nia-terof I'.nstdii. Me was ;i|i|)(iiiueil in I'l.V). hv the C^tnn- 
cil in .answer td the iietitinn nf main nf the citizens f. .r a 
nil. re s\-leniatic di-^ti iliulicn i>\ the mails. Like all the 



Walks ami lalks -Ihoiit llislaric Boston. 3' 

puhlio paptT^ (if thll■^^ il;i\ ^ llin-c i> a (|uainliu->> in the 
uorcliiiL; of the urck-i- a|'|)i)intini; liiiii as postmaster that i-- 
rather attractive. It reads as foUuws ; "I-'or preA'entin^ the 
miscarriatife of letters, it is ordered that notice be ijiveii 
l-Iichard Fairehanke, that liis house in I'.oston is the place 
ippiiinted f'lr all letters which arc ln(inL;ht hey.aiil th." seas. 
i\v are to he sent thither, are tn he 1iviiul;1u nntn. and he is 
til take care that they lu- delivered and --ent accordin.^' to 
their dirvctinn. and he is alh'wed fur e\ery letter, a penny. 
,ind must answer all nii>c:irri,aL;e-- tl!iiinL;h his own nei^'oct. 
in this kind, proxidec' that U" man --hall he oniiielled to 
hrin;;' his letter-- there except he please." 

It is e\ ident ih.at Mr. I'airelianke made .i \ eiy accept.ahle 
Postmaster a- he retained the oltice nntil hi^ death in iN.j. 
■\ period of j.s; \ lar-. 

lie left no deseend.inl - in the nrde line, ami only one 
daughter, t'onslance. w h" mai'ried ."^anniel .Mattlock o: 
lloston. Richard I'.aireh.anke's house wa^on W ashiuLiton 
Street, on the site now oci-upie.l by the I'.oston I'd,, he huiid- 
inu;". 

The .auce-tiir mI the- 1 )e,lham hi-aiudi of the I- airh,aids->' 
faniih- wa- h'uathau h'.i\ eih.anke, ,i nati\ e , 'f the I ■|,nnt\ ,i| 
^'i,rksliire. l-jiL^l.and. It i- th,,uu;lit that he came ■ >u the 
same ship ;is Kich.inl and that the\ were hrothers. hut re- 
search h.as f.ailed to sh,,w the- ev.K't d.ate i,l his arrnal nr his 
relationship t, , l\ichar,l, "Wuh |,,nathan l-".iyerhauk', came 
his wife, < irace anil six children. It is ^aid that lie- hr, ,UL;ht 
.across the seas with him the frame ,,l ,i In, use. , ,| u;i,oi| ,,ld 
l''-n.L;lish oak which he stored in I'.ostun, for three \ears. 
"ntil he had <lecided where he would locate with his f.amilx . 
A sur\ e^■ of the xai'ious sei'tions around r.>,stou led hun t,, 
'dioose l)edham or "C , ,nteutmeut" ,as it was then called, 
which was estahlisheil , m the loth of the J\\\ month iii.V. 
on a petition of twel\, ]iers,,ns t,i the ( ieuc-r.al (durt. Tlu' 
Dedhani dixcn.anl was ilr.awn u]i and siL;ned h\ the peti- 
tioners ami ,,thers. .and .iftei' the L;iant h\ the ( .eneral 
Court, ]iers(,ns were .admitteil fidm time to time. This 
i.'o\cnant was in the n.ature ,,f ,i unitnal c,,m]iact concern- 
iuL' the future m.anauit'Uient of the alT.iirs of tin- town, .and 
if li\ed up to meant ,a pi'.aceful. law-.ahidin^; ci,nunnnity 
-,,verned li\ the < ioldeu Rule. ,iml like .all the documents 
issued li\ thi'se I'ludt.au settlers i,f .M.assachusrtts, w;i- 
stroUL^K reliL;ious in tone. The I'airli.anks' |'',iunl\ llisto- 



Il'ulks „ii(l I'alks .Ihniit Histonr Host, 



rian >a\ -- tliat loiiatliaii lavLThankr "liad a mMul i.-(lucatii in 
fnr tin- tinu-s. and wa;^ a man of stroni;- cninnmn mmi--(.', 
'-nnml in(l,u;nH-nt and i^ckkI cxecutue abilitx'. I I c \\a^~ a man 
111' sU'imi^' indi\idualit\ and w itli a dni^j^ed tenacity ni piu'- 
|insc, wliicli charactcrisliis >ccm to liavt lircn inhurited l.)y 
man\' nf lii^ descendant--." man\- iit wlvini have "raised 
tlienisehes t(i liiL;h rank in tlieir re^pectnc callint^s" and it 
nia\ lie claimed that the average pDsitinn which the family 
ha> always (iccnpied mark' it "as a family secnnd tn nunc in 
any respect nn thts >ide nf the Atlantic." 

Jiinathan h'ayerlianke wa-- "(w identl}- possessed nf ample 
means for those da\>, or he wnulil not ha\e keen alile to 
ha\-e taken care of ^o kir^e a family nntil he secm'ed his 
])ermanent hcmie. lie iecei\ed \arion^ grants of land in 
hedliam at ditt'erent tnnes includinL; the lot on which the 
l',iirli,ink> llonse now viands. I'.efore l<i,^7 there had keen 
granted him a twehe ,icre lot. fom" acres of which were 
'Swampt'" land; and in that \ car he recei\ed another allot- 
ment of foitr acres more. In those early da\ > land- were 
1^1 anted to individuals in twclxe and ei.i_;'ht acre lots. 

Mis first hou>e. the older portion of the present "h'air- 
kaids-s llonse" was l)uilt in idV' ' i" the upland in his L;rant 
for a house lot. In 1(14^ an .idduion was built, and "a few 
\ears later a lar;jer aihlition was nunle. wiiich was called 
the new house. . sn]iposi-(l to he kuilt for the occupation of 
his oldest sciu lohu and his f.iniily. (Jn this s]iot this his- 
toric house has stood for neark three centuries, and is t(]- 
da\ without doubt the oldest fi-ame house in the I 'nited 
States. 

"W inter .md summer, frost .and heat, ha\ e done nuich to 
undermine its s\ nimetr\ . .and its leaning- waIN and sloping;' 
tloors are ouK held iu |il,ice li\ its massixe oak. 1 )own to 
tS(|i) it was handed down throUL;h ei^^ht ^generations with 
ne\er a inortL;aL;e incumbr.ince upon it. .\s we \iew this 
old house we obtain ,a clear idea of the actual appearance 
of the houses of our forefathers. What changes h.i\e been 
made are more in the nature of rep.iirs and ha\ e seiwecl to 
kee|i the old house from falliiiL', to iiieces. 'Idle solid and 
siinpk' effect is still retained. Its old L'ray w.ills tinted 
b\ the brush of l-'.ather Time with the natural stain of the 
: ;iin-ilrops ; the moss-Lirown shinL;les on the roof in xaryiu^; 
shades of sai;e and maiut'; the bi"i;.4litness of tin- meadow 
cariiet. stretchinij ;'wa\ to the south, dotted with the \ el- 



Walks and Talhs About llistanc Boston. i.\ 

low whiu- cif the 'MarL^iUTitf,' an<l the liuttercup : the pur- 
ple shadows dii the tr. e tr\inks, and on weathef-beateii 
clapl)oards. make a C(nii|ii >^iticin cif form and color which is 
hard to equal." U is a picture which is appreciated by art 
students, and it is constantly being painted and sketched, 
in the summer time. The nmst pictures<iue view of the 
house is as nou approach it frum the railrnad station, 
where it is seen nestling .anicmg the tall and stately trees. 
It occupies one ol the Itest corner lots in the town, the lot 
being about one acre in extent. The large farm long since 
was divided among different branches of the family. 

"The house is in three ^ecticms, a main part and two 
wings, the entire length being se\ entj-five feet. The mid- 
dle part has a pitch runf e.xtending down over the lean-to 
at the back within ,i few feet of the ground. Koth wings 
are gambrel roofe<l. Long \ears ago, an Indian arrow pro- 
jected from the roof. ha\ ing been there beyond the meiu- 
ory of anv of the family. It is a family tradition that the 
arrow was shot in during the Indian raids in the trying 
days of the past. -\s we stand before the house we count 
eight windows of which no twn are alike in size, and they 
are irregularly ]>laced as well. The boarding of the h<iuse 
is ])eculiar, ranging from a n.ai'row cl.apboard four inches 
across. In front of the door i^ the old well with a well- 
sweep." 

,\s we enter the house we are in a small entry eight feet 
in dei)th, from which five doors open, the front mitside 
door, those opening into the rooms ou either side, a door 
at the foot of the stairway to the tlocir above, and another at 
the head of the stair> to the cellar. Throui;honl the house 
the doorways are so low th.at a ]ierson of medium height 
can scarcelv pass through without bending the head. <.)n 
the left of the entry is the kitchen, which looks older than 
an\- room in the house. It is sixteen feet S(piarc and 
lighted bv two long narrow windows on the front. ( )ver- 
head all the beams and r.afters show, as this room has ne\er 
been plastered. The walls ,ire m.ide of o\er-lapped boards 
with rounded edges. The outside w.alls were finished the 
s.-ime way before the cl.apboards were |)Ut on. .\11 the 
woodwork in the kitchen h,is tnrni'd to a deep brown, choc- 
olate brown, the residts of ;ige ;ind the smoke from the 
wood fires of two centuries, '{'he brick oven still remains 
but has outlived its irsefulness. The chimney at the hot- 



.M Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

tool nuaMin.-s rii;lit li\ ten l\-<'t. So tlii-~ i ild kitchen stands 
in lyi'i. ihc >aiiu- a^ m i<>:;(i. Aci'd'-s the entry from tlie 
kitchen i> the parhjr, ahunt twn-thirib the size of the 
kitclieii. It is i nie of the lowest in the hotise, measuring" 
in the highest ])art ni>t ci\er six feet in height, and near the 
friiut wall, wiucli ha-~ --unk -.i ■ nnich it is se\eral inches less. 




The h".aNlern adilition l)uiil fur Juhii I'airliank- and his 
bride is a ciis\- tenenienl with twci Inwer and one npper 
room, with tire|ilaces in each of the lower rooms. In the 
parlor o\ cr the lireplace, still hans;s a wooden crane rive 
feel li'ii-. l.onu; years aL;o. liefore the disco\ery of petro- 
lenni, tin- faniih nseil to li.mL.; L'.reasi- l.inip^, called 
■■widder^" or ■'( )ld r.etts\ " (jii this crane, to liL;ln np the 
room dnrini;- the lonL; winter evenings. 

The room o\ I'r the parlor in the main house has l)een the 
faniih- chandier thron^h all the generations that ha\e li\ed 
iiere. Man\ of the he^t relics ha\e been sold or gi\ en away 
l)\it in the dark kitchen chand)er are many "old timers." 
■-\icli as foot warmers and spinning wheels, candle mould'^. 



Walks iutd Talks .Ihoiil Ulstoitc Boston. 



I )utcli n\cns aiiil citluT articles ( 
a panniL-r >uch as (Uir niaiidsiiX's 
side wlun LiuiiiL; td the mill or t 
an ox saddle, a very _<;reat curiosi 
tile diamond sliaped i)anes of L;la 
which were set in strips of lead, 
thii^e times. 



f domestic nse. There is 
^hniL; alont;- tlie old mare's 
I the store or post office: 
ty. and rarer still some of 
-s, l)rous,;'ht from Eni^land 
IS putty was not in use in 




i;il,l,n„l.' 



'rhroii^hout the jSo years wliuh ha\c ]>asse(l o\ er it tin- 
liouse has ne\'er been deeded. A l',-nrl>;inks Imilt it an(i his 
descendants ha^•e always owni-d and occupit-d it, u]) to 
i<)02, when a bolt of li^ihtnini;- struck th.e house ami killed 
the dog' in tlie room where Miss I'airhanks was lying. As 
she was alone and had a strong dread of the ]ilace on ac- 
count of the stroke of lightning, she renio\ ed. to Boston 
the following winter. The house was then let and for the 
first time in its history it \v;i-- occupied b\ strangers. .\ 
vear later .Miss Rel)ecca I'airhanks retmaied to the house 
;ind remained until the estate was purchased b\ the I'air- 



3(3 ll'alks and Talks .Iboiit Historic Boston. 

banks Fainil_\- in America. Inc. The uld honse proves a 
great attraction to visitors, and annual reunions of the 
Fairbanks Family are helil there, it is a "home-coming" 
of the clans, and its meetings are alwaxs of great interest 
and largely attended. 

Mr. Henry Irving Fairbanks. President cif the Fairbanks 
Family in America, and his wife li\e in the bungalow near 
bv and are custodians of the property. 



tlfjc anririu ijiiD lionoriiblr artillrr^ Coinptuij' 

TIk' nu-n wlm sctilcd Alassacliusf tts umUr J(jhn W in- 
tlii'ijp were nut ailventurers or tigliting men. Inn tlie\ were 
wise and courageous, and made [jreparations for defence and 
also for direct hostilities when occasion required. Their 
Charter authorizetl the ( io\ernor and Company "frMm t\nic 
to tyme, autl at all tymes. hereafter, for the special ilefence 
and safety, to incuunter. repulse, repell and resist liy force of 
arms, as well by ^ea as ]iy land, and hy all fitting waie>. and 
means, whatsoever, all such |)er^on or persons, as shall, at 
any tyme hereafter, attempt. i<v enterprise the destruction, 
invasion, detriment, or ann(]yauce to tlie said plantation, or 
inhabitants." 

The John W'inlhrop Colony hronght over qnite a stock 
of oi-dnauce. firearms, jiowder, nnmitions and ei|uipments. 
for a uinnher nf men. Train hauils were organized almost 
inmieiliately upon their arrival, and tliese were drilled hv 
veteran officers, wlio were paid f^r their services. As early 
as 163 1, an iirder was issued for the nmuthly training of 
these l)and^. In I'l.V' there were ten of tliem, officered by 
leading men nf tlie I'l'lnti). man\ of whom had belonged to 
the Honorable Artiller\- Com|ian\- of T,(]ndon. Tlie recol- 
lection of that organization, doubtless, prompteil t\\ent\-four 
of the Massachusetts officers in 163^- to form an Artillery 
Companv in Xew F.ngland which would serve as a Military 
School, in which the officers of the ^cattereil town companies 
could acquire uniformitv of tactics and diill. Thc\ petitioned 
Governor \\'inthrop for a chartri' of inci ir|)i iration, and the 
Military Comi)any of Massachusetts as the Artillery Com- 
jiauv was first calle<l, was organized in liostini 'in the first 
IMondav in June, 1638. The officers elected on tliat ila\. ac- 
cording to the second article in the Charter, were .ill char- 
ter members. There was a captain, lieutenant, (■nsign. two 
sergeants, clerk and dnnnmer. The Took- <if |)isci])liue of 
that day says, "The Captain wa-- e\]iected tn be ;i good pos- 
ttirc man himself, that wlu-n he sees any of his snldiers 
h;indle tln'ir arms in .lu indecent .ami slo\cnl\ manner. Ik- 

37 



,1^ 



Walks ,111,1 Talks .Ihont Ilisforic nostmi. 



)iiay the 1 letter i-r|ir'i\e llu-m for tile same. His place eif 
mareliiiii;' w itli lii> cimipany is senile six feet liefore the first 
ili\isi(in lit niusketers."" I'he ]iiisitinii i pf the ntlier officers 
is alsii clear!} delined. The (Iriininier. at that tiiiu'. Arthur 
Perry, was ijuite an inipdrtant persi ina,L;e. in the tnwn as well 




All iilill<iij„i,ni uj III. 1)1,1, 



as in the company. There were iiei newspapers, at that time. 
The tirst printing press was not hrought over from England 
and set tip in Camlnidge. until i'\V). so the drtmi heat stim- 
moned the faithful to I'liurch, and to the weekly lectures, 
besides summoning the military to their colors for drill 
and parade. When the Artillery Coiiipanv paraded, the 
Cohir was displayed early in the morning from the \icinity 
of the market, after which tlie nrummer. accomp.itiied li\ a 
Sergeant, heat "to tlie colors" alon- tlie water sidr to W'iiini- 



Walks ,111(1 'l,i!k-s .Ihoiil llistoi-ii Boston. 



simnict I'cmtn, aiicl llini liark ah mil; what i> m >\\ llaimvi-r 
Street, tu Treinnnt Mrrel, wliirli was then a cart patli almiL; 
the edge of the (.'uninion. ( aptain ixolierl Keayne lived on 
State Street opposite the l-'irst (. luireh, now the present .Mer- 
chants IJank JluiliHni;'. As l'onnd<,i- and hrst Captain of the 
Ancient and Honorable Artillery CUnipany, Air. Keayne de- 
ser\cs more than a mere nuMition of his name, lie was horn 
at W iiidsor, luiL;land. in l.Sw.s. anil joined tjie llonoraljle Ar- 
tillerx t onipan\ of London in i<i_',v lie came tij America 
in 1635. in the shi[) "l)efencc" and connnenced Ijusiness as 
a tailor on the somlnasi oonu-r of State and \\'asliini,>-toii 
Streets. lie had some capital, and this with his industr\ 
:md ener.i;\ soon made him one of the leading- Colonists, lie 
was ;i fir]n friend and snpporter of ( io\ernor Winthrtip. lie 
honght oxer 300 acres of l.ind in wliat is now Revere. lie 
canse he accunnd.ated nione\ . il w.is coUvicU'red an offence 
b\' SI line of his townsmen and he was lironght to ( 'onrl for 
trial. The Court said .among m,in\ (jtlier things, "Inasnnich 
as he \\as alread\ wealtlu and liad Imt one clnM, and inas- 
mnch as he came oxer for conscience sake, he shall not stri\-e 
to make money." Tlie t hnrcli holders (U'cided to C(jm|ii-o- 
mise the matter hv his pa\ing "l'JL;hty pnnnds, Captain 
Kea\ne having promised with te.irs not to stri\e ti 1 make 
money." The incident shows tlie prex'.iiling iijea in tlie good 
Old Colonv times, reg.ardinL; the ;im,issing of great wealth. 
The ■•Trusts" i.f toila\ would li,i\e fared hardly at the hands 
c)f these rigid I'uritans. ( '.apt.ain Ke.axne was highly res]iected 
b\- liis fellow townsmen. lie g.ive liher.ally to the town, the 
Church and the schools, lie gave £-'50 to Harvard College, 
and a like snni for a Tnwn l.i1ir.ir\ and for introducing fresh 

water into his neighhorh 1. lAcrx institution designed for 

tlu' hcnefit of the |ieople, recei\ed liberal <lonations from 
him. In his will he left ti.V" f<ir a market place and Imildin^ 
which should have ri>Mms for tlie Townsmen, the Coui'ts. ;i 
T,il)rar\- and an .\rmoi\ . lie ilied in his own house M.irch 
-,v ''\t,s- Tt is thought th.at he was liuried in King's Cha|iel 
Hurx ing ' 'rronnd. 

In the I'.i-Centennial sermon liefore the Ancient and I lon- 
oraljle .Artillen- Compan\, Rev. I )r. Samuel K. Lothrop. 
speaks of Captain Keayne: "as helou-ing to the great mid- 
dling class of Xew Rnglaud, who, possessing neither extra- 
ordinar\- wealth, nor e\traoi-din;ir\ talent, \et liaxe been 
eminent f' ir their i)nblic usefulness, f, n- their high moi'ul 



40 Walks ami I'alks About Historic Boston. 

wiirtli as men and fur their faithful services a^ citizens." 
Aniline;- the prominent men helunfjing to the Artillery 
C'lmpaii) was Hnni])hrey Athertun. who came to America 
ill Ui:;3 and signed the covenant of the Dorchester Church, 
lie >ho\ve(J a great taste for military affairs and occupied a 
leading position in the militia of the I'rdvince. He was fre- 
quently sent to treat with the Indians, lie was a man of 
great strength and personal courage, lie had several chil- 
dren and gave them peculiar names, which was characteris- 
tic of the times. They were Jonathan. Rest. Increase, 
Thankful, Hope. Consider, Watching and Patience. He was 
killed by a fall from his horse September 17. 1661. He was 
Ijiiried in the Xorth Dorchester liurying Cround at I'phain"s 
Corner, where his epitaph may still be reail: 

'Tlere lies our ( aptain and Suffolk, was withal 

A worthy magistrate \\a^ he, and Alajor ( ieneral 

Tw-o troops of horse with liim here came, such worth his 

love did crave. 
Ten ci>nipanies of foot also mourning, marched to his grave. 
Let all who read l>e sure to keep the truth as he has done 
\\ \{h I'hrist he now is crriwncd, his name w ;is Humphrey 

-\therton."" 

Robert Turner was another officer of the .\rtiller\- (/om- 
pany. He was an innholder and kept the "I'.lue -\nchor 
Tavern on the site of the Boston Globe Innlding. The ro<jnis 
in the Tavern were designated as the "(_"ross Ke\s." "Green 
Dragon." "The -\nchor and Castle L'hamber." and the "Rose 
and Sun Low Room." Lie furnislied lodgings and refresh- 
ments for the ."Selectmen, prominent officials and the Clergx 
wdien they met in ('oiivention. 

Robert Bridges was another character who ti.gured promi- 
nentlx in the early history of the company. He was one of 
a committee of five to draft bilL for "]i(.sitive laws against 
]\ing. Sabbath l>reaking. proianit\. drunkt;nness and kindred 
vices." 

John Mull was captain in i(>j\ ami was a sihersmith. He 
made a contract with the I'roNince for coining silver money, 
the first coinage lieing in ii>^j. He was allowed to take as 
his pa\' fifteen pence <iut of every twentv shillings. He 
amassed a large fortune out . if this contract. The General 
Court desired to be released from it. but Captain Hull de- 
clined to do so. His daughter married Samuel Sewall. after- 
wards Chief Justice of the Province. There is a tradition that 



Walks and Talks .lluiiil Historic Boston. 41 

wluii clrcsj-cd I'nr ilic wcddiiiy aiiil in llic presence oi the 
gnest^. her lathi-r |)lace(l her in hi> lar^e scales, and piled the 
silver >hilIin,L;s on the (jtlu'r >ide until the scales balanced, 
and that was her wedding dciwrx. 

The Civil War in luigland began m 1(14-' between Charles 
the I'^irst and Parliament. It waj, in i()33 that (Jliver Crinn- 
well came to the front as Leader of the ""Independents" and 
became their soul and inspiration. Several of the Boston 
.\rtillery Conipam espdiised the cause represented b\ 
Cromwell and serveil mider him 1 in the liattletield. We re- 
cord their names ami some nf the descendants are still 
among" us. The mil nf name-, is as follows: Col. ( ieorge 
Cooke, Col. bihn l.e\erett. Col. ."Stephen Winthmp. Wm. 
Rainsburnjw . Lieut, (.'ol. Israel Stoughton, Alajor Xehemiah 
r.ourne. .Xlajnr I'.enj. Keayne, Major .Samuel Sheparil, Sm- 
geon l-'rancis Lyall, (,'aptaiu \\'illiam Hudson. Ca]it. TIujs. 
.Marshall, bjisign Thduias Tucker. We ha\e given only a 
few names of the man\ pniminent citizens who served lion- 
orabb in this nld .\rtillei\ t'ompany. l-'rom 1637 to IJ.V 
there were 03-' names, including the Charter .Members, 
biirne upnn the nills. 

The position of thnst- peisous in the social, civil and mili- 
tary life of the Colony and I'rijvince indicate the respect 
which the people entertaint'd f(ir the cnupany as well as the 
abilit). prciminence and intlueuce nf its members. The\- 
were the first in (jrgauizing churches and supporting them: 
they were the c<jnstani friends 1 if ])ublic schot^ls: thev were 
prominent in frauu'ng and adiuinistering the laws of the 
Ccilony: they were foreniust in the introduction of manufac- 
tures and in the extension of the trade of Boston; many of 
them were public benefactors, devoting somewhat of their 
wealth to religion, educatimi auil charity. They trod every 
battlefield of Xew England in the first centur\' nf the eoni- 
pan\'s existence. 

Their lo\alt\ to this C(iuntr\ stands forth fearless and 
prominent. They planned, spnkc au<l acted to hasten the 
birth <if the Independencx- nf tlie (dlduies and the estab- 
lishment of the Republic nf the Cnited States. .\nd what 
was true of the character, benevnlence and devotion of the 
members of the coni])an\ in the lust interests nf the cnm- 
munit\ , state .and natinn dtuing the first ntu- hundred \ears 
(if its existence, has lieeii true all the- snlise(|Uent ye.'irs ,ii its 
lii~tni\ dnwn tn tile ]iresiul d.ate. 




.,/ //,. I. ,1 //. 1. '• 




.Inhii Ihtirni,! 



Coffon a?iUf)rt anD tf)c SDd>"j of 
CUitrfjriaft in fim (Enclanb 

The name rif Mather ligures very prominently anions; the 
clergy in the early clays of Boston. Rev. Increase Mather 
was pastor of the \e\v North Church. Until the great fire of 
1677, when his residence was destroyed, he lived in North 
Square. He then built a house on the corner of Hanover 
and Bennett Street, where he lived until his death, and here 
his celebrated son. Cotton Mather, spent many of his boy- 
hood days. For over 100 years this house was virtually the 
parsonage, for here, after the days of the Mathers, lived the 
distinguished Andrew Eliot, and here his equally celebrated 
son, John, for 30 years in the 17th centurv. They were 
pastors in succession of the New North Church from 1742 
to iSi,^. On the corner of Hanover and North Bennett 
Streets may be seen the following inscription, on a tablet: 

Rev. Increase Mather, Minister of the Second 
Church 1660-167,^, removed to a house on this site 
after the Great Fire of 1676. It was later the home 
of Andrew and John Eliot, Father and Son, Minis- 
ters of the New North Church, 1742-1813. 

A recent writer in his "Glimpses of Old Boston," published 
in the Boston Post, says: "This house was the first in Bos- 
ton to be visited by the garrulous John Dunton, a London 
bookseller, whose account of his residence here afifords a 
very vivid picture of the Boston of the 17th century. 'I 
made my first visit,' says Dunton, 'to that revered and learned 
divine. Rev. Increase Mather; be is the present rector of 
Harvard Colle.ge ; he is deservedly called the metropolitan 
clergyman of the kingdom. And the next to him in fame 
(whom I likewise visited at the same time) is his son, Mr. 
Cotton Mather, an excellent preacher, a great writer; he has 
very lately finished the Church History of New England, 
wliicli I am .going tn piint, ■■('nil. in .Mather, the son of Rev. 

45 



46 



ITalks and Talks .Iboiit Uistor'ic Bostuii. 



Increase Mather, \\a> Imni in lloston. Feljruary 12. 1663. He 
is said to have been a most iirecocious student, entering Har- 
\ard LoUege at the early age of thirteen. He tells us in his 
(iwn words, that at the age of fourteen he had read Terence, 

()\id, \'irgil. and other Latin poets, and was so faniih'nr with 




that dead language, that he took notes in Latin of the sermon. 
He read the New Testament in (ireek and he began to study 
Hebrew, which he mastered before his fourteenth birthday. 
He taught school for several years after he graduated from 
Harvard. Later he was ordained to the ministry and he be- 
came a colleague of his father, who was then pastor of the 
Old North Church of Boston, where he remained as colleague 
and pastor until his death in 1728. He was a most prolific 



Hulks luid Talks .Ihoiil llistoi-'ic finslmi. 47 

writer. i)ein.i,' tlie author of nearly four liuiidrcd vcilumes. 
chiefly of a religious nature, the best known of which is his 
■'Ma.s^'nolia.'' But he stands out most prominently anions the 
men of his time as a firm believer in 

WITCHCRAFT 

and as the i)rincipal leader and prosecutor in the trials of 
the so-called "Witches." The belief in "Wit<l!es" and 
"Witchcraft" -was universal in thuse di}s. I "or three hun- 
dred years the Church of Rome sanctioned the most ex- 
treme [)unishment of persons whom they found guilty of 
witchcraft. Thousands of sus|)ected persons were burned 
ali\e. driiwncd cr haiii^ed. In ( ierniany it was cstniated 
that in tin- sixteenth centmy. nicire than une hundred tli'iu- 
sand persdUx accused and ciunicted (if this S()rcer\ . i)er- 
ished in the tlanies. The uMst enlii^luened men nf h'.np- 
land, e\en in the days of the L'c immonwealth, held the be- 
lief. The ministers entered earnestly into the work of 
stamiMu.t;- nut this delusion, and, because of their powerful 
social influence, they did more to foster the wild excitement 
and prorluce the distressing results of what is known in his- 
tory as 

"SAIJ'.M W ITCllCkAI-T" 

than all others. Hubbard, the Puritan llistori.nn. l)elieved 
t'^at "America was originalh peopled with a crew of 
witches transported thither b\ the devil." Cotton .Mather 
seems to ha\'e fullv shared this belief as shown in his 
methods an<l that of his associates in dealing with witches 
in the case of the poor old Irish woman who was han.ged as 
a witch. The circumstances are as follows: In io8S, a 
wayward daughter of lohn ( ioodwin. alxiut thirteen years 
of a.ge, accused a servant girl of stealing some of the faniil\ 
linen. The ser\ant"s mother, a wild Irish wnm.'in ,ind a 
Roman (.'atholic. vehemently rebuked the accuser ;is ;i faKe 
witness. The \cinng girl in re\en,ge. pretended to be be- 
witched l)v the Irish woman. Some others of the family 
followed her e.xami)le. The\ would .alternately become 
deaf, dumb and lilind, bark like dogs. p\irr like cats, but 
none :if them lost their a|)petites or sleeii. C'ott<iu .Mather 
took the cases in hand and h.astened to the ( ioodwin home, 
to ,illa\ tile \\ilelier\ b\ pr;i\er. Woiideiful were the .alleged 



+^ ir,ilks <iii(i Talks .IhonI Historic Boston. 

facts lit lii^ su|>]ilic;iliMiis. The (lr\ il was ci'iUrollcd by 
them for a time. I'ciur dtluT niini>U'rs nf Hdstdii. and i me 
of Salem, and all as superstitious and ci-ednlous as .Mather, 
joined him, and they spent a whole day m fasting- and 
prayer in the house of the "arilicted." the result of which 
was the "delixery" of one of \hv family irom the power 
of the "witch." 

This was >uHicient proof fdr the min<ls of the ministers, 
that there must he a witch in the ca>i\ and these deluded 
clers\nien |)ersecuteil the i^noraui Irish woman as such. 
She was bewildered before the court, and spoke semietimes 
in her natixe Irish lauL;naL.;e, which nobody could under- 
stand, and which her accusers and judges construed into 
in\-oluntar\ confession. .Mather ami his associates had the 
satisfaction of seeing this ]ioor old Irish woman hanged 
as a witch "for the glory of ( lod." An epidemic broke 
out in Salem, and when the physicians found themselves 
unable to control it. they ascrilied the malady to the 
witches. People believed that Satan and his evil spirits 
had been permitted to overshadow the land with a ter- 
rible visitation. The terror in the people's mind causeil 
them to forthwith accuse some individual. The afflicted 
and the accused became so numerous, that no person was safe 
from suspicion, and its consequences. Those who were ac- 
tive in the persecution, themselves became objects of suspi- 
cion. .\ constable, who had arrested many and refused to 
arrest anv more, was accused, condemned and han.ged." Sir 
William Thipps, the (iovernor, and near relations of the 
Mathers, and learned men who had suffered the delusion to 
go on, in their turn became objects of sus])icion. The Gov- 
ernor's wife, one of the best ;md purest of women, was ac- 
cused of being a witch. Some ])ronn'nent people were com- 
])elleil to tl\ to s,i\e theii' li\cs, and near relatixes of the 
Mathers were imprisoned. As might liavc been expected. 
malice and revenge made use of this terrible weapon to ac- 
cuse tlie innocent, and when the statements of the accused 
would move the Court in their favor, the accuser would de- 
clare that he saw the devil standing beside the victim and 
whisi)ering words in his ear, and, incredible as it may appear, 
tlie judges on the bench would believe the statement. It was 
not until the magistrates in ( hurch and ."-^tate found them- 
sehes in danger that they remembered the I lolden Rule and 
s.aw the wickedness of then- conduct and called a halt in the 



Walks and I'.ilLs .ll'onl Historic Hostoii. 



iHTsccutiiin. "A cijixru (if Aiulnx or. wlm was accusi-d. was 
wiser ami ImldiT than (itliers had been, and iniincchalcly 
caused tlio arrrst (if his ai-cust-r (in a charier iif dcfaniatifin of 
cliaraclcT. lavin;^ his damages at U\v ihnu^and dollars. Tho 
public mind \\a^ in s\ni|iath\' with this anion, its e-Hi.-ct was 
wonderful, and ihe atniosplu're l)et;aii to idear." It coni|ielled 
the clerL;\ ti i take- acfun. \t a conx cnl i- h. In K] ni I niic. \ii')^. 
lhe\ made the dexil a C(in\enieiit seape^dat lor the siiiv and 
follies of niai;i--lrale>. elerL;\ and people by vtalinL; that "the 
(K\il nnL;ht a--snnu' the ^hape of a l;oo(1 man and vd (liT(i\(,- 
the allliited." ( io\ eruor I'hipp^. after his wife wa-- aee\i-ed. 
at onec i;a\c orders fur the release of all person-- nnder 
ari-esi fi ir w iteheraft. "A da\ of L;eneial fa^t and sn]i]ihea- 
tion \\a^ held 'that < md wonld pardon all the en-or^ ..f bi^ 
sei\ant> and peo|ile ni a late traL;e(l\ raised anionL; n^ by 
Satan and bis scrxants.' Then follow eil nian\ ^ob-mn de- 
nials b\ parties who bad aeeiweil dther^, nf the statements 
they bad made. 

Juil^e .Scwall, who bad presub'il ,it main trials at .^alem. 
stood np ill his placi- in elinreh on that hast 1 )a\ , and im- 
plored the ]ira\i'rs ,,f the pci ipb- "that the errors whieli be 
had committed niii^ht not be \ isited by the judgments ,if an 
a\-eii.u;in<; ( iod on his conntrx. his familx, or himself." I )iir- 
iiiL; the six months tb.it this (bliisi,in was at its L;rcatest 
heii^bt. nineteen ptrsiiiis \x cic bailL^ed. oik- killed bx beini.; 
pressed t.. death, lifty-tixc tortured and fri-btened to a coii- 
lessiiin ..f miilt and inie hundred and tiftx xx (.-re nil] iiis. humI. 

nnriiiL; all this time there xxas no sueb iIiiiil; as mntnal 
eonbdenee. W bile other leading; men saxx the error of their 
xxays and made ..pen eoiifessi.in of them, and abaiidoiie(l 
the belief. ( ottmi .Mather, made no eoiifcssicn ,ir retraction, 
lie persisted in the belief and continued to write in its de- 
fense. .\s (Hie histori.an s,i\s; '■.Mather's .aeeonnt of the de- 
li'sicin is nnpri ilitable reading;. It deals in the absurd fancies 
of a man deluded bx liiL;otrx, superst it h in and cbildisb 
credulitx." Robert t .alef, ,i merchant, xxnite manx letters, 
xx'lich \xcre publisbe(i. in xxliich be ridiculed tlu' x iexx s ,i| 
Mather and there xxas ,i IoUl.; ci lUt ri ix ers\ betxxeen them. 
Thex' ariiiised the ani.;er nf .Mather, xxlhi used x crx striMii; 
lanL;iiaL;e and ]irosecnted (alef for shmder. .M.itber's let- 
ters xxere pnbhshed in book form. ( dttoii .Mathers kinsman, 
at that tiiiu' president of llarxard Collei;!'. |o sli,,xx bis dis- 
approx.al. canseil sexeral co]iies of the book to be pnbbclx- 



50 li'iilks Olid Talks .Iboitt Historic Boston. 

hi'rned on the Ldllci^e i^riunuls. It was a dark and unplcas- 
ain chapter in the history of the Xew England colony. It 
made a lasting and nntaMirahle impression not only on the 
ci'.ilizetl worUl but iijicmi the minds of their nearest neigh- 
hcirs. the savage Indian-, whu turned from a religion which 
inflicted such cruelties upon nue's own Cduntrxnien. It was 
i>f ser\ ice to the Je-uits. w Imse mis-ii aiario were laboring 
anmng them and win. presented religion in a milder and 
more bencticeiu form. The Tndian>, therefore, naturally 
allied themsel\e_- tn the I'rench in the wars which followed, 
which resulted in great loss and distress to the colonies. 

The house shown in the cut was probablv built bv Cotton 
Mather and wa- hi- home for thirty \ ear-, lie bought the 
site in mSS and in l-iS -old the property to .Mr. Turrell. 
In 182.2 the property came into posses-ion of lohu lli>\vard. 
whose daugliter s,il,l it to John Miller. It remained ])rac- 
ticall}- as it was built until 1840. when the front wall was 
taken down and the building extended to the street, and the 
site is Xo. 288 Haucwer -treet. It was a comfortable look- 
ing dwelling and located in what was then, a quiet and pop- 
ular neighborhoi id. 




\lnll,, ,-, //,, 



"cfjr ptmtiin Bltir Idtuo 

In this 'rwcntictli Lciilury all M>rt> of isms seem to 
drift naturally to Boston. Sometimes they tiiul a welcome 
and in course of time g^ain many adherents, for in these 
days there is no arm raised to crush them or banish them 
to the wilderness. Thev mav have to run the gauntlet of 
criticism or ridicule from the ]iress, but as long as the\ 
keep within the pale of th.e law, no harsher measures are 
used. This toleration is in luarked contrast to the methods 
which ]>revailed in this Turitan town of Boston from 1630 
to 1700. The Puritan of those days regarded himself as 
his'" lirother's keejier."' to sa\e him from error. "In his 
opinion he was God's chosen High Priest." The laws of 
that day on the Statute Books, and the records of Court 
proceedings show his stern, unflinching character. 

Having invited the persecuted of all lands to come to 
them, manv "unsettled persons," and of unrestrained opin- 
ions, came to Massachusetts to disseminate their peculiar 
views. The Puritan then became alarmed. He saw clearly 
in that dis>emination of difl^ering ojiinions the disorganiza- 
tion of his church. His ideas on C'hurch and Civil Gov- 
ernment were founded on deep con\ictions, and it must 
be remembered that he was not broadly educated. He 
felt that the country which he had conquered with so much 
toil and peril, was his own, and that he had "as good a 
right to regulate its internal affairs according to his own 
notions, and exclude all olmoxiou- persons, as had a house- 
holder the afifairs of his family, and the avoidance of an 
unwelcome visitor." To gu.-ird hi- church and protect so- 
ciety and his domain, the Pnrit.nn went to the extreme in 
the ])assage of fiery ])enal laws, and he was implacable in 
their execution. There were no dead letters on his Stat- 
ute Book. A law once established must be rigidly en- 
forced. This iron rule of bigotry was condemned by not 
a few good citizen- in those days, but it was many years 
before the rigor of those terrible laws was relaxed. The 
leading men. ( lo\ernors and Mini-ter-. were \ery -trong 

51 



Il'ulks ami Talks .Ihoiit Historic Boston. 



and exlrciiK- in tlicir \ ie\v>. "( io.l t'urliiil." >;iy> (I'lNenmr 
Dudk-_\- in his nUl atie, "nur ln\e for the truth shduhl he 
iL^Tdwn so Cdld th;it we ^hcinhl Idlcratc (.Trurs." 

"I'lfttrr toh'ratL- h\])iicrilCN and tares, than timni^ and 
briers," ■-aid the well helii\ed |iarscin, Re\ . Juhn C_'(pttiin, 
"T(i sa\ that a man nught tei ha\e liliert\ ■ if conseienee is 
impious ignorance," said 1 'arson Ward (if Ipswich. "Ke- 
lii;'ion admits of no eccentric notions," vaiil Parson Xorlon, 
the colle.ai^iie of Ward, liioj^rapher of C otton, and a chief per- 
secntor of the (jnakers. 

They forhade all i;aminf;- for amnsmient or .i^ain, and 
would not allow cards or dice to he intro(luced into the 
(,'olony. 

rhe\ lined lamilies where nciUiil,'' women did not spin as 
much tlax or wool dail\ a^ the .Selectmen required of them. 

rhe\ would not allow ,i lesuit or Roman (.'atholic priest 
to li\e in the C'oloiu. 

'rhe\ forhade all person., to rini, or e\ en walk, excejit 
re\'erentl\ to ,ind from church on Sunda\ . 

TIkw doomed a hnrglar hecausi- he had committed his 
crime on that sacied d.iy to have one of his ears cut oti . 

'rhe\- commanded John W'ed^ewood to he put in the 
stocks for heiui; in the companx of drunk.irds. 

'I'honi.is I'etit for sus|iicion of slander, idleness and 
stuhhornness, to he sr\erely whipped. 

Captain Lo\ell was (jrdered "to take heed of li^ht car- 
riaLje." 

Josias I'laistow foi- stcalin- four haskets of coiai from 
the Indians w.is tnahred Icj return to (lu-ni eioht haskets 
of corn, to he lined four iioinids, ,ancl thereafter to he called 
b\ the n.inie <'f "h'sias" .and not Mr. I'l.iistow as formerly. 

The ( irand |ui-ors were directe(l t< i ,idmonish those who 
wore apparel too costlx for their income, and if they did 
not heed the warnini;, to line them. 

In i<i;('- ."^amuel .Maxerick was lined for entertainrny 
str.anLjers. 

In I'l.V'. "\ m;:n was whip]n'd for shootiuL;' a fowl on 
Simda\'. 

In I'l.^i. I'lnh]! katclilf had his ears ciU off for ini- 
].iety. 

In Mi.^J. Se\ er.il men and women were whi|iped lor 
T.H'tt\' crimes. 



Il'alks .111,1 lulh-s .Ibont llistoru- Huston. 



In liiyS. kiimr \\ illianis was Kani^lu-d tur what wa> 
called luToy. 

In I'l.V- SwrariiiL; ami pi iw -wow inu; was |)iniislial)lij 
by a line ,>[ ten --liilliiiiLi--. 

In r(i:;7. l\i-\. .\lf. Wheelwright wa^ l>ani>he<l I'l )r 
heresy. ' 

In I'l.^X. Captain I'mlerhill was liaiiislied fur defania- 
tidii. 

Ill UiT^H. Se\eral (jnakcrs were hani^fd tdr their pru- 
fessidil. 

In \(>T,'i. SliH'ks were hnilt to pniiish eritiiinals. 

In 1140. lliiL;h I'.ewetl was lianisluMl heeaiise In- 
tliiiiiL;ht he did nut vin. 

In i(>30. The weariiiL;" 1 'f ^reat hunts and siher lace 
was strictly pruhihited. 

In 1(131. ( )hadiah llnlnics was whipped t'l ir heini;^ a 
I'.aptist. 

In 1(13(1. Se\ ere laws passed tn punish (jiiakers. 

In Id^S. Three men whipped and had their ears cnt dtl 
because they were <Jnakers. 

In I'ldo. The cliservanec of ( hristm.is was strietl) 
jirohihited. 

In Mill". Man\ persnns whi|iped I'nr heiiiL;- riajitists. 

In ii'J~- .Mari;aret I'.rew ster. a (Jitakeress. was tied tu 
the tail nf a cart and whipped. 

In |("i_'. (dies ((jrey ]>ressed tn death l'. .r witchcraft. 

In \(»jX. Kissinj^ was an (ilTenee, U> he ]innished h\ 
fine (if parties cnld he caiic;ht in the act). 

We ha\e alread\ mentioned that "kissiniL;" mi the strei-ts 
was fnrhidden. It was n^l e\ en allciwahle in the case (il 
relatives 

We idcse this oriles, mie li'-t < >\ olTences and penalties 
with a little sti,r\ which hears mi this |i(,int and has been 
h.inded d. .w n b\ a well kiuiwii historian. 

".\lniost a hundred \ ears after that law forbidding kiss- 
iiiL;- on the street was ]iassed. its penalty was inflicted 
npnii the I 'oniinaniler of a I'.ritish nian-nt -war. The ves- 
sel arri\ed in lloston llarlxir after a Ion- cruise. ,\s lier 
(dtuniaiKler was ^oiny- toward his home in that city, he 
met his wife on the street, hastenin.s: to trrcet him. and in 
the joy of seeinjj- her, he sjave her an affectionate kis.s. A 
stern old Magistrate in a cocked hat and powdered hair in 



?4 ll'alks and I ,ill:s .lh„„t Histonc Boston. 

a queue, w Im was "Iraninl in the law," >eciiii; tin- act, 
caused his iunneiliate arrest. The next niDrnin;^, after due 
trial, the (aptain was c()n\icted, and the jinnishniont ut 
fli)o-o-ino was .idniinistered in a \ ery niilil wa\, hut in a 
puhlic place and causint;- much merriment. W hen the vic- 
tim was ,il)Mul 111 sail un another cruise, he invited that 
ma.n'istrate and nthers, whcim he unflerslt md had ap|irc)\ed 
his ])unishnient, t< > a ci miplimentary ilinner nn Iniard of iiis 
vessel, as a tcilcen i if his fnrsiix eness .and suhmissiun. Thev 
oladh- acce]ited the inxitatii m, .and wlien they were .all 
merrv with oi „ ,(1 cheer, and mi deck ready t(i depart, he 
ordered his hoatswain -.wA mate to j^ive the niai^istrates a 
fi(.),e:.a:in.sj;. Fach officer w.as armed with a knotted cat-n- 
ninetails. and they laiil on the lilows with stron;^- arms and 
.1 Liiiod will, drixiui^- the .astonished guests pell mell over 
the side of tlie shi]> into the hoat waiting to receive them. 
The Ca]itain soon weighe(l anchor and s.ailed ;n\a\-, and 
the law was shortly afterwards repealed." 




ai^S 



Lxogrr CClillicimQ 
'SEijc apoarif of Erlidioii'j 'colriation 



lames l\iis>ell l.nwcll, i n\r ..f ,,iir i;i'eat AiiK-rican ri'itics, 
aftrr a careful --tudy <,i the early culnnial permd. says: 
"Let iiie preiliise. thai there are twn men. almve all nthers. 
Ii'r w hum mir re^pe't is heightened iiy their letters, — the 
i'lder j.ihn \\inthrii|i and lv'L;er Williams." S.iid aiiiither 
histc.rian: "He stamN , mt from the scjmewha.t im nn .ti mons 
i'liritaii deeornm as the iinmntains <if his natue Wales 
stand I'lit frniii the uniform sweep <if tile l-'n-lish enast." 
lie was liiirn in the. year idoo in a little (■(mntr\- \illaL;e 
amid the ninmitains nf Wales, .\fter his -radiialinn fn im 
I 'anilirid-e, l-'.ii^land, he entered the ministry. Mis tolerant 
iileas <iii relij^inn hnuiL^ht down n|Hin his head the dis- 
pleasure nf .\rehliish.,p L.iinl. lie cuiild iieit Imw down in 
siilmiissioii to the ceremonies of tli'e lui-lish Church, as 
then ]>rescrilied liy law, ,iiid he determined to emii^rate to 
America. 

\ccompaiiied li\ his yomiL; and heaiitifnl wife he s.aileil 
from I'.rist.il, ]'".nL;laiid, arrixiiiL; in I'.oston, l'eliriiar\ 5, 
Mi.^i. Soon after his .irrixal he recei\ed ,1 call from the 
church in .^aleiii, to hecome the associate |):istc]r. "Me ac- 
ce]ileil tlu- imitation, hut the ci\al authi'rities interfered 
to prexeiit his settlement, L.',i\ iii.L; as their reason that W'lll- 
iailis jiad refused to Join the coiiL;rei4ation in llostiHi. de- 
clariiiL; as his opinion, that the magistrates miL;ht not pun- 
ish a hreach of the ."sahhath, nor .any other ot^'ence that was 
a hre.ach of the tirst table " W iilianis maintained that 
e\ er\ national church is .if ,1 \ icioiis constitution, and that 
a majority in such clmrches are unreLjenerate. 

.\( it withstanding; the oppiisition of the rnrilan leaders, 
Williams settled in .S.dem, hut the .authorities in I'.oston 
sl,arte(l such a storm oi persccnti. m aj^ainst him tli.at his 
sl.t\ there was of short dur.ili.m. Me then renioxc.l to the 
more liheral coloii\ .it I'hiniiuth. and liecame assistant t.. 
the p.astor, Kev. K.alph Smilh. W hile there, hi- w.as on the 



Jl'alks and Talks .Ihoiil Historic Bostr 



most fricndlx tonii^ wilh m_'\i.t;iI liidian cliit-l's. aiUDiii; 
tlieni the gond ( .hk micus, tlic Saclu-ni nf the powrrl'iil 
Narragansett tiihc, and with the xoiiiii^ M iant(.)ni)in(ih. \',\ 
his kiiKhicss and fair (kaliiiL;, ho won thiir 1m\c and cunli- 
dcncc, wliich hr rrlaim-d Id the \rr\ end. Me fell and 
WTute that the Indian-- w ei'e enlitied to seme C(ini|)en>atii m 
for the lands taken fiMin them hy tin- Kin^'.- patent t' i tlie 
Alassachusetts L'dlnny. Said I'ruf. i)iman ni I'.rnwn Ini- 
\ersity at the decheatidn i<i the Kn^er W ilhams Mimnment 
in 1 'rox idonce : "jolm l-'liot has won the name uf the Indian 
A|ii.-^tle; hut ten \ ear^ liefure h.liMt preached, Rn-er Wdl- 
ianis hail eon--ecrated himself t(i this missiunaiw work: ncit 
sent ciut hy a pnwerfnl and wt-altlu I'.nard and fullnwed 
A\ith the prayer-- uf thiinsan(K, hnt drueu furth m exile ami 
selling his Imu-^e, even, 'thai he might d(i the nati\e^ 
giiod.'" The authiirities in lldstnn --ummmied him ti > ap- 
jiear hefore them and. answer td charges which had heen 
fcirmulated against him. Me answered the summnns. and 
at the trial e.xhiliited a meek and cdnciliatory spirit, and 
while he Wduld Udt letract his npinidns, as tlie\ were a 
matter di ci insrience with him, he w,is re.id\ U) hnrn the 
hddk which had pr(]\ed sd olTensixe td them. In |ul\, I'l^S. 
the .mthdvities fdund new grie\ antes ag.iinst him. lie he- 
came hdlder in his aipdsition tn the right i>\ the King td 
appropriate and grant the land of the Indi.ans withdut |)nr- 
chase. and the right df tlu ci\il power td inipuse faith and 
worship. Me denied the right df the magistrate td inter- 
meddle, e\en to restrain ,-| chmch from heresv and apos- 
tasy. Such dpinidiis w cie reg.-irded as monstrous h\ the 
Puritans, and unless \\ ilhams wduld recant and take h;ick 
what he had saiil. he nmst ]>v hanished from the Colouv as 
speedily as pussihle. Me m.aintained with great strength 
his <]pinidn "that there was .m :d)sdlnte and eternal dis- 
tinctinn hetween the s]>heres df the ('i\il ( id\ernment and 
the L'hnrch." Me wrdte :\ Idug letter tn his own cdiiLjrega- 
tidu in fa\(ir (jf the rigid se|)a]'ati<iu df L'hurch and State.'" 
The Cdtu't found that Mr. Williams deser\ed id he han- 
ished from the Colony for holding such doctrine." The sen- 
tence of hanishnient w.as p,issed .Septendiei J,, I'l.^s. .ind 
read as follows: "\Miereas Mr. Roger \\illi;tms, one of tin- 
FJders of the Church of Salem h.illi hro.achec' .and divulged 
divers newe and dangerous o|)iiiioiis against the authoritx 
of magistr.ates. :is ;ils,, \\iili dthers df defam.atidn I.oth df 



Walks ami Tnlks Ahoul Historic Boston. 



the iiia^^i^lratt's and i IiuicIk--- Ikti.-, and that liLl'iTL- an} cun- 
\ ictidii. and \ el niaintainctli the same. \\ithi)Ut any retrac- 
tion, it is therefore nrdered that the --aid Mr. \\ illianis shall 
depart out of this jnrisdicti' m within ^ix weeks now next 
ensuin.i:;'. which, if he neglects tn perfcirni, it ^hall lie lawfnl 
for the < i(i\ernor and two of the nia.i;i- trate^ tn send him 
til snnie place mit nf their juri^dictinn, nut ti ■ return any 
ninre witlinut licence fr. nn tlii^ cnnvt." 

The friend^ nf l\iiL;er William-- were >lirreil to deepest 
indiL;natii in at thi-- cruel sentence tn he executed at -^uch 
an inclement >ea^i lu nf the \ ear. h'.dward W'inslnw. ex- 
liiixernnr nf the I'hninuth < 'nlnn\ . deepl}- >ympathized 
with Williams, fnr he w a> a kind-hearted, liroad-nunded 
Christian man. I'wentx- leading- men of the two colonies 
determined to go intn exile with Williams and share his 
fate. In deference to the sentiments which had been ex- 
pressed by the people in favnr nf Williams, the time of his 
dejiarture from Massachusetts r,a\ was deferred until the fol- 
Inwing s])ring'. Williams, rei^arding- this as a concession, 
|irnnuili;ated his ilnctriue with greater fnrce. lie proclaimed 
himself an .\uab;i]ilist. nue w Im denies the \alidity nf in- 
fant ba])tisui. a I'.aptist ni tnda\ . This was nmre than the 
Puritans cnnld stand and the autlmrities decided ti • send 
tlu' ■'tmubler" back tn I-ji-laud. Williams refused tn ap- 
pear before the m.aL;istrates and ( 'aptain rnderhill was 
Sent tn Salem in a |utmace in pursuit nf Williams with 
orders tn arrest him and put him on Im.ird nf a vessel 
bound for Kngland. I hit W illi.inis had been advised of 
this nrder. ( in\ernnr W inthrnji h;id kindly, but secretly 
;id\iscd liiiu. "tn sirer his cniirse In the Xarragansett Bay 
and the Indians." and when I aptain I'ndeihill went to the 
house tn arrest him. he fniiiid niiK his snrriTwing wife and 
two babes. Williams had been gmu- three days. I.nssiug, 
the historian. ,gi\'es a \i\id picture ni W illianis' dei>arture. 
lie savs : "< )n a cnld winter's ni^lit. the iiinnu nii the wane, 
and sunw on the gmuiid. he hail kissel hi^ \\ii\. .-uid chil- 
dren, and departed in the -Im'iu tn -,e(d< ,i ■•efuge with the 
dark pagans, who were umre tnlerant than his |iale-faced 
Christian brethren, lie went fnrth ainne with a long staff 
and a scrip throw u n\ er his shnulders. Wild lieasts were 
in his ])atli. T'.ehind him were the treasures of wife and 
children. T.efore him. as radiant and as enticing as the 
Star in the luist, gleamed the brilliant luminary of Chris- 



Walks and lalks .Ihoiit Htstoric Boston. 



tian ftliics which \\a> his pcilc star a\i(l miidc." Williams 
made his way ti> the hmisc uf .Massasnit. x\\v \ ciu-rahk- 
Sachem uf the W ampaiiiiai^s. wheii.- he was wainiK wel- 
comed. 

Ill his old a,u;o Kom-r \\ illiams refers to this ex|>erifncL- 
ill his life, "h'or fourteen weeks he was sorely tost in a 
bitter season, now knowint;- what bread or bed did mean. 
Often in the stormy nii;ht lie had neither fire or food, nor 
company; often he wandered without .a guide, and had no 
lioiise but a hollow tree. Hut he was iu,t without friends. 
When he came tn the cabin of the Chief <>f Tokanoket, he 
was welcomed by Ma-sasnit: and "the barbarous heart uf 
Canonicus, the Chief of the \'arrai;ansetts. loved him as 
his son to the last gasp." "The raxens." he relates, with 
gratitude, "fed me in the w ilderm-ss." ■'.Vud in requital for 
their hospitality, he was e\er. through his long life, their 
friend and benefactnr : the apostle uf niristiaiiit\' to them, 
without hire. \\ itlmnt weariness, anil withmit impatience at 
their iilnlatry: the mi.irdi.an of theii" rights; tin- paciticat(jr. 
whi'U their rude jiassions were inll.inied ; and their imfliuch- 
ing advocate and jirotector, w hene\ er l-'.uri '])e;ins attempted 
an in\asicin of their soil." 

Just as the little colony li.aij begiui to build and plant, 
near the present .Martin's ( o\e. a friendh" letter canu 
from (_lo\-ernor W'inslow , sa\ ing tli.at they were within 
the jnrisdictiou of the I'lxuiouth (.'olon\. and as he did 
not wish to oftend the I'lju , .and desirecl the undisturbed 
repose of the e.xiles. he adxised W illiams and his little 
party to jiass to the other --ide of the .Seekouk ri\er. where 
they would have a large country before them .uid lie\oud 
the jtirisdiction of both colonies mi the coast, and this kind 
and wise advice was lueded by the settlers. Iluw landed 
at the mouth of the .Moshemic lixer. and here the\- 
founded I'rcwidence. s,,-e;illed in commemoration of ( iod's 
manifest providence to him in his distress and he dedicated 
it as a shelter for all those distressed for conscience. Tlu- 
new settlement was at the he.ad of X'arragansett I'aw .1 
beautiful green sloi)e with a spring of sparkling water ne.ir 
by. Al.any leading men of the r!ay and Plymouth Colonies 
docked to Providence with their families. Williams pur- 
chased his land of the aged Canonicus. In I'w*^ otliers 
came from the Massachusetts Pax' C'olony, and from the 
Chief .Mi.iutonomoh thc-y purch.iscd the island of .\i|nid:i\. 



Walks and Talk's Ahonl Historic Boston. 



wliicli \\a> the Inilian iianie fur the rfL;inii ami iiicant 
•■i'cacalilc Isk-." ■'With tin- \va\ nicely cleart-il, Williams 
and his little hand ■>( liilli'\\er> tlirn made readv tu estab- 
lish an anomaly in the history ,,f the race — a state that 
should absolutely iL;n'ire an\ |iii\\er in the buch |»ilitic t" 
interfere \\ith the matter- that -,ilel\ euncern the indi\ id- 
ual man and his .Maker." Klmde Island, under W illianis' 
leadership. establishe(l a ]iin\dy democratic form of L;o\eru- 
ment. The I'hristi.m and f(jri.;i\ ini;- spirit of RoL^er V\ ill- 
iams sJKjne out must clearly se\eral vears after his banish- 
ment. It was at the time of the -reat iiprisin;^- of the 
l'e(piot trdie of Indians in .\e\\ l-^.n-iand. The tribe was 
ruled by a famous .Sachem ami Chief uameil Sassaciis. 
"lie was cool, calcnlatniL;: treacherous. hauL;ht\-, tiei'ce and 
maliL;uant. and was the terrier of the nei,L;hborin^- tribes, 
lie latled o\er twenty-six saL;am(.res, o|- inferior prmces, 
and his dominion extended from .\ari-aL;ausett l'.a\ {>> the 
llndson ri\er and o\ er l.oni.; Island. I lis bra\er\' won the 
unbonnded admiratii>n of the warriors, of whom almost 
\\\n thousand were alwa\s ready to follow |nm w lierexer 
he mijiht leail. lie -aw the l-'.n-lish L;ro\\in- in ]iower and 
influence and he deteinnned to exterminate the intruders. 
r>\ persuasion and menace he tried to induce the .Mohci^'-ans 
and \arra;4ansrtts to become his allies. The three tribes 
luiited cotihl put four thousand men on the war |)atli at one 
time. The .allies of the l'e(piots captured a .Mas-achnsetts 
Ir.-idiu',;- \ essel (jh Idock Island, killing tlf c.Lptain and 
I'lnnderint;- the \essel. The authorities in I'.oston deter- 
mmed to punish the I'eipiots .and awe then? into i|uietude," 
This ex|)editiou of the l'.a\ ( 'olonists. although weak in 
numbers, and badl\ condiicled, did considerable dania;L;e to 
the properly of the Indians, ,iud ,Sa-sacns s\-, ore xen^eance 
111! the pale faces and sent ambassadors to the UKinarch of 
the XarraLjaiisetts, nrL^iiiL.' him to join in a war .if extermi- 
n.ition. declaring; as ,•. pow.erful ]dea, that the two races 
Could not li\e together in the same land and that the 
Indians who would -ooii be the weaker ]i.irl\ wmild be 
scattered and destro\ ed like lea\ es in antunin." .\ deliv- 
(.-rer of the i-oloiiists appeare<l in RoL;er Williams. Tie 
heard of the proposi-d alliance and perceived the daiv^er, 
rnmindful of the cruel widUL.;s he had sufft-red at the 
hands of the I'urit.in leaders of I'.oston, he (U'termined to 
sa\e them if possible, lie hastened on a storm\ day. in an 



IValks and l\ilks .llunil Historic Boston. "i 

open hnat, ;uiii^> Xarrai^anxtt Hay, to the dwelling cil 
Aliantononioli. near tlie site of Xewport, Rhode Island. 
He was the acting; Sachem dl" the Xarragansetts (for his 
nnele (."ancjnicus, the C'liief. was \ ery old and was re\ ere<l 
hy theni all.) There Williams fonnd tierce amhassadnrs 
frciiii Sassacns uri^iif,; their siui. and at the peril of his lile, 
he opposed them with .irmnneni. I inally. Williams pre- 
vailed. He not onK piexented the alliance (it the Xarra- 
g'ansetts and reipKiis. Imt induced the .Xarragansett Chiefs 
tn go 111 I'.dstiin, where the\ c.nclnded a treat} nf peace 
and allitmce with the culnnists, sc i the I'eipiots were wx 
only compelled to carr\ i m the war alime. hut tu hglu the 
.Xarragaiisetts alsd. This .ine act stamps Roger W ilhams 
as a man <<\ suhlime emu-age and of the highest (hristian 
character. "lmegrit\. nndaunteil courage, and i>rompt 
decision marked all his conduct. l-'.\ery man of whatexer 
clime, or color, or condition, he regarded as a brother. 1 lis 
opponents confessed that holh at I'lyniouth .and ,it .^alem 
he w.is res|iecteil and lieloved as a ]iious man and an ahle 
minister. In all the relations of domestic life, his ci niduct 
was most exemplar\ ; and i'\er his whole course, his jiiety 
shed a hallowed lustre." ( ;eor;4e ILincroft, in his jjistory 
of the I'nited ."^t.ales. pa\ s this high and tru'hfnl trihute to 
Uoger Williams. "At a time when ( ierm.niy was the h.at- 
tletield of all luirope in the impl.icahle wars of religion: 
when l-'rance w.as still t^ > go ihrou-h the fearfu.l struggle 
with higotiw; when l-'.nL.;laiid w.is g.isping under the des- 
potism of intolerance. Rogei- Williams asserted the -reat 
doctrine of intellectual lihertx . It hecaiiie his glory to 
found a state u])on that principle and to stamp himself up- 
on its rising institutions, in char.icters so deep that the ini- 
|iress has remained to this d.L\ . lie w;is the first ]ierson 
in modern I, hristmd.im to .issi-rt in its plentitude the rloc- 
trine of the lil>ert\ of coiiseieiice. Let there he for the name 
of Roger Williams, at least some huinhle ]ilace among those 
who have advanced moral science ami maile themsehes i1k> 
benefactors of mankind." 

l~rom an .article |iublis|icd in the' "I'.ostoii American" and 
\\ritten b\ the Re\ . Thomas \\, ( .regoiy, concerning Ro-er 
Williams, wo ipiote: "When W illianis returned from l-'.ng- 
land with his idiarter, he wrote tin- t 'onstilntion that has 
the distinction of beiii- the tiist Legal Heclaration of Lib 
ertv of t'ouscieiice ever adojited in .\ineric;i. I'.nrojie, or in 



Walks and lallcs .Ihoiit Historic Boston. 



tlu- world. Such i^ the It. m. ir Kclon-iii- to "little Ixhoily." 
— an lioiior that the |in>nik'^l i.-niinrcs in the- earth niiyht 
well afford to cherish with (leepc't satisfaction. The Rev. 
John Cotton of l!cp-^toIl, |iastor of the h'irst Church, who 
(lied in if>5J. the greatest and most influential personage 
in his day in Massachusetts, in hi-, di^cu-^^ion with Roger 
Williams. ga\e utterance to tlii^ statement, "It is wicked 
for Falsehood to jiersecute Truth, hut it i- the --acred duty 
of Truth to persecute l-'al>eliood." Where is the infallible 
and unerring wi<di>ni. which sh.ill he aide to tell us what 
i> truth and what is fal>ehoo(l: Roger W illiams knew his- 
tory and knew that tlu' slogan of iufalliliilit\- i^ either the 
cry of fools or the suhterfuge of hypocrites, and like the 
honest man th;it he wa^ he came h.ick at jolin Cotton with 
these words "i wisdom: "We ha\e no law among us 
-A'herelix' to ]>\uiish an\ one, for oid\ ileclaring 1)\ wurds 
their mimK and inider--tandiuL;^ concerning the things and 
ways of Cod." 

"That answer settled hihn ( oiion and ;dl the other Cot- 
ton-- it is t'l he hoped for .all time ,is far as this countr\- is 
concerned, .\mong the men who h;i\e made America, an 
illustrious place must lie gi\en to the great-hearted Welsh- 
man, for there cmdd ha\e lieeu no Cnited .^tates of America 
as we know it toda\ . without the L;re.it priuci|de of relig- 
ious freedom and thai principle w.is planted here liv Roger 
Williams." 



feomr ]ltfiii!3 of l?i'jtoncdl Jntrirot 
Jfirot Cl)ing0 

"Boston always t-xi-rciscd Liit-at inHiK-ncf with the Colonies. 
L'nder the satjacions direction of W'inthrop she oris^'inated thc 
Colonial Confederation of i')43; ^^he su^'t^ested the Con_L;ress 
of the Colonies which adopted the (_'( infe<Ieration of 1775: 
dnrini^- all the War of the i\e\-ohition she held a controlliiiL; 
position ; her voice was everywhere heartl, her inllnence everv- 
where felt. .\niniate(l l)\ her patriotic s])irit. New Rns'lantl 
fnrnished more than onedudf (if that patriotic army which 
achie\ed independence, of which .\la--sachusett^. alone, con- 
trihiited ncarlx' one-third. 

The first threat <if arnu-cl resistance was here ntteriMJ: the 
first act of resistance was licre done: tlie first recommenda- 
tion that Independence lie declared wa> here made: the first 
liliiod in the cause was here shed: and the steady valor of our 
".\linnte .Men" in what mav be called the first battle of the 
Revolution, the llatlle of Hunker Hill, first assured Washing- 
ton that the cause of .\merican Independence was safe. 

P>nston estalilisheil the first church, the first free school 
and the first colleL;e. .She also built the first vessel, the first 
jirintiuL; press, the lirst hotel .and the first railroad. She 
st.irted the first temperance mii\emem when (lovernor W'in- 
throp broke uji the custom for everybodv to be drinking his 
neighbor's health, ."^lie ort^anized the first abolition move- 
ment. She ori.ginated stump s|)eaking. when the Rev. John 
Wilson, durint;' the canvas for ( lovernor, addressed the people 
from a tree in behalf of Winthro]) who was elected. She 
created the first public park, our Boston Common, which we 
owe to the forecast and wisdom of (lovernor W'inthrop. and 
this, alone, should nKd-:e his name dear to e\ery i'.ostonian." 
(Mayor Frederick ( '. I'rince. a( the -'soth .\nniversar\- of 
I'loston, September 17, iSSn. ) 

The first General Court of .Massachusetts nu't in 17.S11 ami 
|ohn Hancock was elected (lovernor. The first newspaper in 
America was pnblislied in Boston, April J4. 1704, and w;is 
called "The Xews Letter." Then followed "The Boston 



Walks niid Talks .ihout Historic Bosfo. 



CiizuUv" in 17011. "Tile W-w l-'.ni^land I'onrant, " iJJl. " The 
Xcw l-'.n-land Weekly Imirnal." in i^jd. '•'riic r.c)>toii ru>t 
1!mv," in 1734. "'riu- I'l ilnniliian Sentinel," in 17SS, 

The "AiK ertiser" \\'a^ the fir^t daiK |ia]>er ami its lirst is- 
sue was |)eeenilier liith, 171)7. 

The tirst .\lnianac was |iiihlishec! hv John l-'n.ster in 1(1711. 
I'otatoes were inlrmluced into Huston hv the Scoteh in 17JO. 
The first steam loconiotive engine was placed on the Wor- 
cester railroad in 1S34. ( las liu;lit was tirst exhihited in the 
I'lOylston .\lustnni Xrjveniher J'l. 1S15. Heacon Street was 
first known as "the road which led to the .\lms House." that 
institution, in i(iS_', heini^ located near the corner of Park' 
and lleactin Streets. It is related that John Hancock, in 171)'!. 
while ( iovernor o|' the State, yave a i^rand dinner to the chil- 
dren liviiiL; at the Alms 1 lonse. 

The (alifornia .Mining; l'e\er reached I'.oston Septemher 
iX. 1S4S, and a C(iiii|)anv of Kio men was f(.irmed who took 
])as>a,L;e in the ship ".Saltello" iJecemher 27. 1848. for the 
voya.sje arouml (ape Morn to San l-'raiicisco. This ship was 
followed hy the Karcpie "l'!l\ira ' |annar\ 1, 18411. and the ship 
"1-jlward l'.\erett," in which 1 31 > men took passage, sailini; 
January i). 1841/. rhe first ,L;old from (.'alifornia was hrought 
to I'.oston li\- .\d.uns F,x|iress (_'oni])any May in, 1840. In 
1831) a lump of L;old from (alifornia weiL;hini;' 13 |>nun(ls was 
on t'xhihition in .1 window on WasliinL;ton .^treet. 

.Sei)temher _>8. 1830, ieiiiu kind, the Swedish .Xi^htingale, 
sanj.; for the first time in America in Treniont Temple. Dodge, 
the I latter, of Hoston, |]aid ,SiiJ3 for lirst choice of seats, 
lennx l.ind's successful tonr of America was under the nian- 
a.i^emeut of I'hiueas T. I'l.arnum, the .L;reat American .Show- 
m.iu. 

rile I'eileral ( onstitution was adopted hy the State of Mas- 
sachuseUs at the I'ederal Street Church, on the corner of Fed- 
eral and l"ran]<lin .Streets in 1788. The site of the church was 
ilirectK opposite tile ]ireseiit kirst .Xational liank lUtildini..;". 
The puhlic spirited citizens of I'.oston have placed Memorial 
Tahlets in different sections of the cit\' to mark the historical 
s]iois, which can he seen in an hour's walk around the town. 

( )ii the south-east corner of State .ind Washington Streets 
is ihis tahlet. 

( )n this Site 
Stoo.j the I lonse of 
(.'apt. kohert Keane. 



Walks and Talks .Ihoiit Historic Boston. 65 

I U- was Uic 

I'dimikT ami I'irst t.dminaiulcr 

>ii till- Aiu-iont ami 1 loiiorahk- 

Artillcrv ( onipanv — 1'>.^8. 

(_)ne hundred year> later this was the site of the book- 
store of Daniel Henchman, where (leneral Henry Knox of 
Revohitionary fame served his apprenticshij). 

At Xo. 2 State Street a tahk-i annl^uIK■es an interestinc: fact. 

l'"irst Store in lloston. 

< )n this site stood the house of 

John Co.uiian, wlm here ojiened 

The l-"irst Shop for tile Sale of 

Merchandise m I'.ciston. 

Like all the leading; merchant^ of ( nlonial da\s, Mr. L'os.;- 
San lived over his --tDrr. 

.\l)ove .\o. jS State Street was the nujdesl home of Rev. 
John W ilM.in, marked hy this tablet: 

.\"ear this Site Stood the Nome 

of Rev. j<jhn \\ ilson, 

I'astor of the h'irst (.'hurch. 

Piefore Devonshire Street was opened from .state .street to 
Dock Square, a narrow lane connected the two points ami was 
called W ilson s Lane, m honor of the ancient cleri;\nian. 

Passinjj down .state .street a few sic])>. on the sidewalk in 
front of the Merchants I'l.mk I'lnildini;. an arrow points to a 
circle in the pavement markiiiL; the spot wlnre occurred the 
I'.osloii Massacre, .March 5, 177". 

* 111 _'S State Street where now stands the ele.^ant buildinu; 
of the .\U-rchaiits' .Vatioiial I'.ank, is placed this tablet: 

I In this Site was the Slio|) of Anthony Stoddard, 

Linen Drajier in 1O44. 

Occu{)ied by Henry .^hrimjiton, Brazier in i()46, 

1 fere in Provincial Days stood the Royal Exchange 

Tavern. A popular resort until after 1800. 

From here the first stage coach from 

Boston to Xew ^'ork was started by Xicholas 

i Brown. Sepeniber 7. 1772. "To go once every 

'1, fourteen davs." 



66 Jl'alks and TalL's .Iboiit Historic Boston. 

\\'e cross W'ashin.utini Street ami walk up Court Street ar.ii 
stop before the buildiiij^ of the < )1(1 Colony Trust Company, 
on which is this interesting; tablet : 

Franklin Printiiif;- Office. The Lont; Room Club. 
( hi this site stood the jirintins:; office of James brank- 
lin, publisher of the "Xew England Courant," where 
his brother. I'lenjaniin. served as an apprentice. Here 
from 176Q to 177(1 '".des and ( iill published the Kos- 
ton Gazette. In a mom o\er the printiiii; office the 
Long Room C'luli btdd tlu-ir meetings. ]t> members 
were most active |iatriots. Here the leaders planned 
resistance to ilritisb authority from the time nf the 
Stamp Act to the outbreak of tlie Revolution. 
Crossing Court Street to the corner of 'Fremont Street 
one sees this tablet : 

Wendell I 'nwell House. 
C)n this site stood the Wemlell I'dwell 

House, occupieil as a Ro\'al 

L'ustoni House in I75'i. Washington 

lodged Iv.-re un bis \isil in 17S1). 




W ■ 



■ II /•.. 



Corner of Court and Tremont Streets in 1X40. Here 
Wasbingtcin was eutertaineil in 17S() when be \isited IJoston. 
It was a famous boarding house and ke])t l)v Mr. Joseph In- 
gerscjll. Some have wondered why Washington should have 
sta\ed at a boarding house, but it was a good public house, 
and far better than anv of the taverns of those davs. 



I folks mid Talks . I haul f/isluric Boston. 'T 

John 1 lancock. the ( .> iscninr of .M;is^;H-lnisftt> at that time. 
had an exalted idea of his position, and felt tliat it was ti'e 
duty of the President of tiie L'nited States to call u])on him. 
"He made a i^Teat (hinier and invited the President to it. ex- 
cusing;' himself from lir^t calling to ])ay his respects on the 
tjround that he was ill at home. Washin.Liton declined the in- 
vitation, anil iiitimateil that a man who was well enough to 
.ijive a flinner party w.is well enont^li to call cm his oin'st. .So 
Hancock, who saw his mistake, sent word th.it he should call 
the next day at an\- liazard." 

Where the llotel Hellcxne now stancN was once tlu- liome 
of ( lONernor Howdom. marked l)v this talilet: 

( lovernor I'.ow ik lin 1 louse. 

( )n this site stood the Mansion 

I louse of James llowdoin, 

I io\eruor of .Massachusetts 

1783-17^7 

GoiuL; down 1 '.eacon Street and crossing 'I'remont ."street, 
we find ^oiue interestin.L; ta1)let- on School Street, t )ver the 
entrance of the Parker House, this tablet: 

( >n this site stood 

The .Mansion 1 louse of 

Jacol) Wendell, Ckincl of 

The I'.oston Pediment 

in I74,T. Afterwards it 

was the residence of 
T.ieut. (.ov. .Moses ( ,ill. 

DirectK across the wa\ cm tlie (;it\ Hall Site another in- 
terestiuL; mciunrial .attracts our attention; 

1 lere Stood the I louse 

Oecupiecl in 1774-1775 h\ 

( "leneral I'redenck ll.ddiman. 

To whom the I'.oston Latin School hoys 

maile |)rotest ai^aiust the deMrucliou 

of their coast. 

Me ordered the coast restored and reported 

the .iltair to (leneral (la^e who ohserved 
that It was impos-ihk' lo he.il the notion of 
Lihertv oiU of the ])eople as it w.is nxited in 
them from their cluklhoo.l. 



(I.S Walks anil Tallcs .Iboiit Historic Dosloii. 

Across the street at Xo. -'d. this tahlet : 

( )n this site stood the 

Church of the I'Veiich Mii^iieiiots 

17K1-1741 ; tise<I as a Congregational 

C hiircli 1743-17S3. (Jccupied by 

Roman ( alhohcs 1788-1803. 

First .Mass Celebrated Xovenilier 2, 1 7SS. 

( )n the north corner of School an<l Washington Streets a 
tablet marks a s|)ot known far and wide thronghont the land: 

l':rectcd 

A. 1). 1712 

( »ld Corner 

l',.M,kst..re 

I 'luilding 

I'assing down W'ashinLjti ni Street on our \\a\- to the Xortll 
k'.nd we |iass some historical spots. At Xri. _'_^c). the siit 
of tlu' first tavern, is marked: 

I'irst 'l";i\ern in I'.oston. 
Site of Samuel (/ole's liui. 'Idle first Tavern in 
I'.oston. i'>.^4. Later kejit h\ James Penn. After- 
\\:ird hy William I'liillips. ;md Ivuown as the Ship 
r;i\'ern. It was owned h\ Maior ThonKis Savage. 

At Xo. 20Q. 

C)n this site st 1 the Second 

Meeting ll>.nsc of tile hirst ClimTJi 

r.iiilt of wood, I )edicated Ifj4<;). 

I'.uriied 1711. kehuilt 171-' of lirick. 

Lalled the "t )|d Unck." Removed 18117. 

At Xo. 173. 

I'anl Re\ere's Shop 
on this site. 17S1), stood 
The Shop of I'.inl Rex'ere 

At Xo. 2<)8: 

On this site stood the 

Home of Re\-. John Ma\(i 

Minister of the Second Cluirch 



lliilk-s ,111,1 'l\ilks .llunil I list,,! i, Hostoii. 



(yj 



fi'diii 1115,^ 1(1 >''J7. :iiiil III Kcv. 

(■(ittdii MallKT, Miiii^ltT 

from i(),S5 to I7-'X 

( )ii tlu- corner of (lark and llan(j\cr Strt-ots: 

( )n this Siti- 

tin- \c\\ Xorth Miximi; Mouse 

was crci-ti'd 

1714 

At 37 Slicafo Street is a tiltini; trihnte to the anthor of onr 
Xational I I yinn. 

I'.irthplaee of 

Rev. S. I". Smith. I ). D. 

Author of "Anierua" 

i8()K 1SS3 

h'.reeted h\ tlie 

( )1(1 South ( h.ijiler 

Daughters of the Anierit-.in l\e\iilution 

I XX- 

.\ear the fool of Manover Street is ( oustiltilion Wharf. 

I lere was huih the l'ri,L;ate 

( onsiitntioii 

••( )l(l Ironsides" 

T^.atterv Wharf. ,^71) ( nmuiereial Street, liears lliis lalilet: 

\orili r,alle]-\ 

I'.atterv Wharf 
< >n this site at .\lerr\'s I'oint, tlie .\orlli I'.atterv 
was ereeted ni i'i44 and wiuks weie uiaiut.iined 
here until after the liosc of the Revolution. 

A \'ei-\ old ta\ern slotjd on ihe eoruer of liallers and .Sal- 
t:tation Streets 

Salutation lasern 
t »n this site stood the .Salutation Tavern 
Also ealled the "'Iwo ralaveries" 
Mere met the Revolntioiiarv Associates eoniposed 
lars^vK- of residents of this li.art of the town which 
I'orined tile Xorth h'.nd ( aiuus. Its nieuilieis were 
acti\c patriots in the People's ( aus<;. 



I Walks and lalhs .iboiit Historic Boston. 

On Xiirtli S(|uarc and Main Street: 

Second C'hurcli 
()n this site stood the Meetini; I louse of tile Second 
or ■•( )ld X'orth I'hurch." l)nilt Miso, hnrnt K'l/G. 
Rehuih 11177. Destroyed tor I'irewood liy I'.ritish 
Soldiers ni 17711 chirinij the Sieuie. 




■Ill, /■•.«/,■/ II III, • 



This tine old mansion nn the corner of < iarden (,'ourt and 
Fleet Streets was a Ljreat resort for the Tories in the days of 
the Revolution. I fere the\ held their conferences and laid 
their |)lans. The I'ostcr llutchinson house was |irol)ahlv lunlt 
l)y John lostcr ahout the \ ear HiSi., as in that year he honijht 
the land, which hecauie his estate, from Richard Wharton. 
John I'ostcr was ,1 prcjinineut 1 ioston merchant who was prom- 
inent in official and military life. Fie died, intestate, in 1711. 
and his wife surxivini;- him hut two months, he(|ueathed the 
bulk of the famly estate, including- his ■'dwellini^- or brick 
mansion" to her ne|)hew. Thomas llutchinson. lie and his 



Walks and talks .Ihoul 1 1 istoric Hoshni. 7' 

<listiiii;iii>hcil ^(in ol tlic ^anic n:iiiK-. who w a^ (i<i\crnor of 
Massachu'-ctts I'.ay from 1771 to 1774. oroui)iril il in turn 
until I7f>5 wlu-u il was sacked \>\ a ukjIi and parlK (k-str(.ivcd, 
who thus showed tiieir <hsa])])r()val of I Intciiinson's action. 
while I -ieutenant-( Governor in the enforcement of the ohnox- 
ious Stamp Act. It was a very lari^e l)rick liouse. painted 
stone color, liaving- ample i;ronncN. cxiendinL; to j-"leet .Street 
and hack to ilanover Street, liulclnnson wrote his "Ilistorv 
of Massachusetts" in this house. "Tile tir'~t \(]hune in ui;inn- 




script la\- in the ricii lihrar\ . ne.-irly read\ for the press. It 
was thrown (jUt witln otlier preciou-~ liook-. ancl pa])ers and left 
Kini; in tlu' street fcjr --exer.d hours in a soaking- rain. Hut 
most forlun.iteK all hut a few sheets were carefully collected 
and saved h\- the Rev. .\ndrew Rlliott, .Minister of the 'Xew 
.\orth (.'hnrch.' li\in- near liy on I lano\-er Street, and the 
.HUlhor was thus enaliled to transcribe the whole and ]iuhlish 
il twii \ears later." 

Hutchinson and his faniil\ m.ide their hurried escape from 
the house just before tlie moh reached it. tindin.i;- refuse in 
neighhorin.y dwellini^s. The estate was later confiscated and 
sold to William Little, merchant, who for many years, was 
ai)praiser at the Custom House, and he occupied it until his 
death in 1835. 



TooQton feitrffts. Qlb anb prcsfiit j^amrs. ant) ^omt 
Jtfm0 of Jntrrrst Conrrrning 'Cfjnn 

• >f tlic names first .ui\cn lo Koston's streets, but very few 
are in use today. Where the same name occurs it is usually 
in an entirely dift'erent section than when first given. 

Washington Street, for instance, was given its name in 
1780, following- the visit of tile leather of His Country to 
Boston. Previous to that time the street from Cornhill to 
Roxbiiry had foin- distinct name--. It was called Cornhill 
from the present Coniiiill to .Milk Street: then Newbury 
Street to .Summer .Street; then .Marlboro .Street to l-^ssex 
Street, and from thence (. )range .Street, through I'.oston .\eck 
to Ro.xbury. 

Tremont Street op])osite the • iranar\ I'.urial ( Iround was 
sometimes called I'add(ick's .Mall on account of the trees 
planted in front of the Burial (iround in 1762, by iMajor 
I'addock. a ])rominent and well-known citizen in the days 
preceiHng the Revolution. Tremont Street, like Washington 
Street, lias had several names. r)ififerent sections of it were 
known as Common, Nassau, Longacre and Holyoke. It was 
not extended to the Roxburv line until iS,^. In i7f3o there 
were only a few streets in tiie rjty. the two great thorough- 
fares being Hanover and Washington Streets, but there 
were numberless bypaths and alleys. At that time the 
larger part of the population was in the territory from the 
shore on the North End to what is now Mason Street, 
what we call today the "down town" section. 

.^tate Street in Re\'olutioiiar\- days was King .Street, and 
the Town House (()ld State House) stood at tlie head of 
the street. Tbe housf nt ( lovernor T.everett faced the 
Town House, King Street, in those earlv days was the 
fashion.able residential section and was the favorite daily 
promenade of the social leaders. 

Court Street was originally known as Prison Pane, lie- 
cause <if the jail which occupied the site of the new City 
Hall .\nnex. Tii Revulutionary days it was Queen Street, 
but in 177''. wlirn the \mcric,\n^ were again in pi iss(.-ssi,)n 



Il'alks ,111(1 Talks Aboiil Historic Boston. 7.i 

ut tlie town, the Kej;istr\- of needs, aii<l higher and lower 
courts were re-estabHshed and it was then named Court 
.Street. It has been truly said, "this thoroughfare is ricli in 
memories of great men and great events." On this street 
were located in the first half of the 19th century the great 
lights of the legal profession. On the west side of Frankhti 
Avenue was a building owned by (lovernor Moses Gill. Hon. 
James Sullivan, a Judge, Representative, .\ttorney-( leneral 
and Governor in 1807-1808, and a noted writer, had his office 
in this building, \e.\t to Gill's Building was the home of 

< lovernor Bowdoin. a man of wealth and of high standing. 
Just beyond was the .\dams Building, where Judge Gieorge 
R. Minot had his office. He wrote the History of the State 
and was the founder of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 

< In the south side of Court Street was the office of Josiah 
Ouincy. a statesman and scholar and one of Boston's great 
^iayors. It was during his administration of the City (!ov- 
ernment that the Ouincy Market was built, and some of the 
greatest improvements ever made in the city were carried 
tlirough. Two other great men of Boston had offices near by, 
Hon. John Phillips and Harrison (Iray Otis, a representative 
in the State Legislature, Cnited .States Senator, and Mayor 
of lioston, 1 829- 1 832. 

-School Street received its name from the Boston Latin 
."school which stood in the rear of King''- Chapel. 

Park Street, leading up tn Sentry ( lleacoin Hill wa^ first 
called .Sentrv Street. Many of the residents on that aristo- 
cratic thoroughfare, lieacon Street. nia\' not be aware that 
that street in the very early days was described "as a wav 
leading to the almshouse," a building erected in i'),^-'. ;it the 
corner of Beacon and Park Streets. 

Water Street has been known as iilotts. Bannisters ami 
Willis Lane. 

Boylston .Street was h'rog Lane. 

Essex Street was "a |).itli lea<bii,L; to tlie windmill." 

Bedford Street was ,it one lime cdied I 'ond Street, prol)- 
ably because of a small ])ond which was then nearly opposite 
the site of the old luiglisb lli.L;li and l.;uin School BuildinL;. 
.At this pond the teamsters watered their burses. 

liattervmarch .Street was ( iibbs L.-me and t.'rab Lane. Con- 
gress Street, was Quaker Lane, nuttmi Lane and Atkinson 
Street. 



74 ll'alks mill Tiilhs About Historic Boston. 

t/liaii-i.- A\enuc, frdin Stair Slrect to l''ancuil Hall Si|iiarL-, 
was l\(ival Mxchaiij;!.' l.aiic. 

DnaiH' Street, prinr tci iSnj, vva^ Lobster Alley. 

I lal) \lley (if the (.ililen time still retains its original name. 
It runs inim r.atterymarch to llroad Street, but there is no 
sii;n (in any liiiildinu;- to indicate it, neither is the name found 
in the l.'.ostnn Directory. I'ntil the L;reat l!oston fire of 1760 
which burned the Town lloiisf. the l-'ir^t L'hurch and 350 
l)thldinL;>, Kilby Street was a narrow lane and known as 
Coo]jer's Lane from Slate to Water .Street, and Mackerel 
Lane from Water to Milk Street. 

-Milk Street in all probability retains its oritjinal naiiie which 
may have been the name of a London Street. The Records 
of 1708. speak of it as "nnminL; from the Siiuth ATeeting 
House down to the sea." 

Devonshire Street from Stale Street to Milk Street re- 
cei\('d its name in 1 7S4, pre\iiais to tliat time it was known 




riaiil.loi sin. I. IS.-)!I 



;is Lndding Lane. Joylieft's L.anc. .and lUack Jack Lane. 

I'earl .Street. ])rior to iSoo w;is known as llutchison Lane. 

Like Washington Street, l-'ranklin Street, although a short 

street, w;is named liv sections. There was \'incents Lane. 



//■,//A-.v .//;,/ hilL-s .Ihuiil llislonc liosto, 



J-ranklin I 'lace. StiirL;is Strccl. llakerV \llc\ ami llaiiiilton 
Court. In llir days just prrCcdiiiL; tlir l\r\(ilnl Kin thnc was 
<|nitc a lari^c jiasturf liutwcrn Milk, lla\\k\. Sunina-r and 
FfdtTal Street-, known as He ( osta's I'astnre and I'ranklni 
.Street was laid nut thruni^h U. When the stret-t was enin- 
]ileted the land w.as (|niekly taken np tor residential purposes. 
In the earK ]i,irt of the mtli eentin'x Iranldin Street from 
W ashninton to lederal, was ,in aristi iei-,itie residenti.il src- 
lii.m. .\s late is 1S511 11 retainecl somewhat oi its .dd tune 
L;randeur. Here nian\ of I'.oston's wealtln linsiness and 
;)rofessional men had their lar^e .ind eonifnrtaMr resi- 
dences. Previous to 17^,1 the lower part nf the strecl was 
low and marshy, with an unhealthy, staL;iiant pi"il. hut this 
was leclainieil ]i\- loseph I'.urrell. who erected a residence 
there with a tine garden of fruit trees, plants and llowers. 
Tlu- cut of h'railklin Street rc'presents a hloek of Ucnises ■ ,n 
the south side of tile street as they ap]ieared in iS^ij. It 
was thf tnvst block <>{ iesideiici.'s c\ I'r ei-ecteil in Ilosliin ;ind 
was huilt in l^ij.v lln-re were lO scp;ir.ate residences ni 
tire hb'ck and in the centre was .an .ircli o\ er a strc-el lead- 
iuL;' to Sununer ."Street, miw known :is .\rch Street. I )\ cr 
this archway were the r<"inis ,if the Massachusetts llis- 
tiirical .^ociet\ and the I'.ostnu l,ilirar\. In the centre of 
the sH'cct was ,-| prett\ little park in whi(h were larL;e ami 
nohle trees whose spreading; lir.inches K'lU ,1 grateful shade 
in the hi it summer days. 

l-'edei'al Street was iiri^inalK known .is l.iiu;^ l,.ini-, Imt 
the present name was ^I\■en to U when the ( (invention for 
the adopiinii nf tho l-'eder.al ( oustitutiou was held in 1 jSh!. 

lliL.;h Sti-eel, leading; fri mi Summer Street to the top of 
Fort Hill, w.is called (ow L.ine, as the slopes ,,f the hill 
afi'orded excellent i^raziuL; for cattle. 

Summer .Street wa- .M\lne .Street. In 1 7.v'^ a part of it 
was called Se\cu .^t.ar Lane. 

llawlex Street has ln-en known li\ man\ n.ames. .inMiiL; 
them IlislKiji's .\lley. Moard .\lley, Ruhar.isou's .\lle\ . ( iil- 
hert's .\lle\ .and W'ayhourne Lane. 

I'each .'s^treet is uu-ntioued .as "a street runtiiuL; h.astw.inl 
to the Sea." 

E.ssex Strec-I w.is called .\ch,amntt\ Street, receiving; its 
present name in iSuX. It was the centre of the l)istiller\- 
1)usiness in \\\v days when the fa\cirite lie\er,iL;e of topers 



/-'' Walks and 7alL-s .Ihnii/ llisturic Boston. 

was "Xew EniL^laiui Rum." In iy')4 tlu-re were 30 Distil- 
leries on I'^ssex and Suuth StreUs- 

Harrison A\enue when first laid tuit was called Front 
Street and was described as "a perfectly straight street 70 
feet «ide." In 1844 it receixed its present name in honor 
of ['resident llarrison, in the davs nf "Tipijecanoe and 
Tyler, too." 

rri'\incc Street \va^ kimwn a^ ( ii i\ ern(]r'-> Alley. When 
the (ill! 1'ri.Aince llmise was a snoial and pdlitical centre, 
this narrow street was an alle\ leading; t<> the stables nf the 
cild mansion. 

Hancock Street, formerly ( ieor>;e ."street, received its 
name in 1800 in honor of (iovernor John Hancock. Those 
old KevDlutionary patridts did not wait long; before renam- 
inii' streets wlmse names were suggestive of royalty and 
Lolonial rule and in their ]ilaces we have the names of 
Presidents an<l ( h i\ern(irs. 

In 1708 I'aneuil liall ."sciuare, in parts, had nian\ names, 
amonj;- them, l'"ish .Market, (urn .Market and r.rea<l Market. 

h'lm Street is a very old street and was Inn;.; known as 
Hudson's Lane and Wing's Lane. 

.Merchant's Row, originally knuwn as Ruebuck passage, 
from a notcirious tavern which bure an unsaviiry reputation. 

Til man\ llnstiinians of the ])resent ilay Dock Sipiare. s<i 
far reniDxed from the water, ^i-cms an culd name for a busi- 
ness centre, but in the 17th century the sea flowed up as 
far as the juncture between I£lm Street and the Scpiare. .\t 
hitrh tide the water probablv covered all the level land now 
ciiniprisL-d in Dock .Sf|uare, which was a favorite landing jilace 
in l*>.U- 

In I7,^J Sudbur\ Street nmning frnm (."cmrt ."Street to 
C'wld Lane (I'nrtland Street) was familiarly kudwn as 
Tnttle Lane. 

L'hardon .Street takes its name frnm the wealthy mer- 
chant, Peter L'hardnn. who had a fme residence at the head 
of the street, where the llnwdcini Sc|uare C Inircli I'.uilding- 
rniw stands. 

T'.iiwdnin Sipiare recei\ cd its n.ime in hcmnr nf I'mxernor 
lames I'xiwddin. In l\e\olulii inary Hays this was a very 
delightful iKirt of ttie city. There were tine estates here 
with bread acres, gardens and nnble trees. 

Le\erett ."street perpetuates the name nf ( Inx ernnr Inhn 
Leverett. East of lleaci m Mill, between I'.nwdnin .-md 
Somerset Streets, was known as N'allev -\cre. 



Walks iiiiil 'lalL-s .\b«iit Historic Boston. 77 

At the Xorlh iuid there were many (juaint names given 
to the streets and by-ways sueli as Swins.'; Bridge Lane, 
Paddy's Alley. Beer Lane, IClhow Alley, Crooked Alley, 
Moon Street. Sliding- Alley, Salutation Alley. White Bre.-id 
Alley, Blind Alley and Frog Lane. 

During the year 1914. .\very .Street, an old th()r<iughfare 
in the heart of the shoi)ping district was widened and im- 
proved. In the early days of the Colony it was called Cole- 
burn's Lane, after one William Colelnirn. a man prominent 
in town affairs. Early in the i8th century it received tin- 
title of Sheafe's T,ane. A\hich it m.aint.iined fur ;i lunidrcil 
vears. 




(•ol„„,i„<l, lloi, 



fiDlO Boston: UdDitiono iiiiti JnipiobrmfntG 

A \ic\v of r.dSldii fi(]ni llic luirlMir. _'3() \cars ai^d, would 
have ^hown thrct- proiiiiiKiU hilN. i mc to the Hditli, titty feet 
hi-li. called Lojips' ilill. for Warren Copii, a >hoemaker. who 
came froiii Shake^|leare^ home, Stratford mi Avon, i'.ni^land. 
and who erected a mill on the snmmit of the hill; another 
hill, ei-hlv feet hi,L;h. adjacent to the shore, near India and 
Rowev \\harve^, known as ( orn Hill, and later as I'ort Hill, 
hecanse (if a fort luiilt on it in ii>,?-': the third and middle hill, 
hnt more distant than the others, one hnndred and eighty feet 
hi-h, called both ■•Sentr\" .and I'.eacon Mill, from the custom 
of maintaining; ;i sentr\ ami an appariitu- tor a si;,^nal from 
its summit. 

Idle name of "Trinioinit" sometimes bestowed on I'.oston, 
did not i-ome from the three hills above named, but was tle- 
rned from three prominences alon,^ the top of lleacon Hill, 
n;miel\, ( otton, or remberton Ilill, where Pemberton Square 
now is, Sentr\- Hill, now the siti- (jf the State I louse, and 
West Ilill, or Mount \ enioii, later the site of l.ouisburL; 
.S(|nare. 

In I'v-'. :i sea w;ill w.as built fi-(im the base of t opp's Mill 
to l''ort Ilill. makini.; ;i crescent-sha])ed 1ia>-, known as the 
Town I (i\-e. It was designed .as a ])rotection of the town 
a.L;;nnst hostile fleets, for the wall w;is mounted willi bii.; ;^uns, 
and at the b'ort Hill end, it lermiiiated in a fort called the 
"Sconce," or South I'.atterw kowe's Wharf is toda\ the site 
of tb;it batterv. In i'l^-', two years after the founding; of 
I'.oston, a fort w:is bei;iin on the eminence of bUrt Ilill, and 
in iii.V'. die work was continued. Messrs. Keaiie, llutchin- 
soii, I oL;L;an, ( )li\er Ihisim^s and others, loaneil li\e pounds 
e.ach. to complete it. Ilie "Sconce" \\;is an outwork an<l was 
constructed of whole timbers, with earth ;ind stones between 
and w :is considered \ cr\ stroma, ddie se:i wall or "I '..irricaili >" 
as It was c;dleil, was a |)rodiL;ious work for those days, the 
wall beini; _'() feet thick ;nid _'_'(« i feet lout;-. There were open- 
inL;s 111 it tliroui;h which \essels coiild enter the Town (,'o\e. 
Il m;irked the first ^re.it midert;ikmL; in wli;irf bnildiuL;. 



Jl'alks mid Talk's About Historic Boston. 70 

riiL- Xorlli r.attciy was at llic extreme eml of tliis threat sea 
wall. Drake says: "It stood at the lower |iarl at tlie North 
l-".iid of the town, ami it was not deniolished tintil after the 
Revolution. The site was then eoiiverted into a wharf for 
the aceominodation of ships and merchandise, and it now 
hears the name of I'.attery Wharf. This, in early days, was 
a very important |)oint, ;is it commanded a great extent of 
the harhor. and (|uite a sum of monev was expended to put 




,„<i II: 



II ill. 



II, .„ 



it in .1 Condition to he of ser\K 
sinldeid\ ap]iear. .\fter a lew \c 



n case an eneni\ should 
the ••I'.arricado" fell into 
decay, as no hostile fleets came here until after the Revohi- 
lion, one hundred )'ears Iter. I'oiiions of th(.- "Ilarricado" 
hecame parts of wharves, that were afterwards hiiilt. In 17(11) 
the foreii;!! trade of I'.oston had s(_) increased that it hecame 
necessary to have larger wharf facilities and it was at that 
time that Long Wharf and Central Wharf were Iniilt. Long 
Wharf was the extension of State Street and it e.xtendeil far 
out into the harbor. In historical associations, I-ong Wharf 
ranks second to Clriffin's Wharf, for it was at Long Wharf 
th,it the liritish troops landed in i7<iS. the men who were sent 
(i\cr li\ ( ieorge the Third to o\ei;iwe and punish the citizens 
of I'.oston and other colonist^ fm- il.irin" to resist his t\r;inn\-. 



.'^) ll'olks anil Talks .lluuit Historic Boston. 

In \(tji) lldvfdii was tlu- |iriiKi|ial ,si.-a|Hirt in Xmili AuK-rica. 
TluTr was no roval cnstoni hiinsc anil the tla,s;s of many na- 
tions waNTil oviT llu' vessels in the harhor. The ]3opnlation 
at that time was i),ooo, livins; in less than two thousand tene- 
ments. Some of the houses in the l)usiness portion were of 
hriek, with tile or slate roofs, and others were of wood, plas- 
tered rout;h east on the outside with cement, in which fineU' 
jiowdered L^la^s was nH\e<l. rile greater portion of the hoU'-es 




si, ■/,.,..,,. 



were of wood, co\ered with da] ihoards and roofed with cedar 
sIllllL;le■^. rile chimne\ s weie lart^e, Iniilt on a stack in the 
centre of the house, and tlie windows were small. The 
streets, of ditierent widths, were pave<l with ri'iind heach 
stones. There were neither street lamps nor side walks, hul 
hilcliini; |)osts were numerous, and iiearl\ every lars;e house 
had its horse hlock in front for convenience in mountinsj or 
dism<inntin|.i. The cows of many of the freeholders were 
pastured on the Common. The Common from the very be- 
i^innins; was used for pasturaLje. Durins the first sixteen 
years of the settlement every resident of Boston owninc: a 
cow had the ])rivilege of driviniL; his cow thither and lettin.ii 



Il'alks and Talks .Ihoiil Historic Hostoii. Si 

ller feed- on the "lierl)a,L;e." as the i;ra>s was always called in 
the Town Records. In ii>4_' John Rn^s^U-^ had the supervision 
of the cows pastnred there, and a tnll \\as exacted of a hnshel 
nf corn a year for ever\ cow pastured there nncler his snper- 
\ision. It was his dnlv to l;() forth with the cows to the (.'oin- 
nion. with the sini an hour hii^h, and to return them to their 
nwncrs at 'i o'clnck in the evenins;. ( )ver a hundred years 
later, a \(ite in town ineetint;' --tiinilated that only four men 
^lioiild he alliiwed to lia\e the use of the L'oniinon for pas- 
turage. In those early da\ ^ the Common was a threat iluni])- 
in.U ground fi)r riil)lii--h and Ira^h of e\er\- cimceivahle sijrL 

Tradition telK iis that the town ofticiaN were constantly at 
strife with William llawkiiis. a butcher, who lived and car- 
ried on his hnsiness on the pre-'cnt site of tlie Somerset Cluh 
(jn I'leacon .Street, who ])ersisted in de])ositin.!;' the entrails and 
other offal from his slans^hleriiit;' establishment cm the ( om- 
mon to get rid of it. There were in those early days in the 
centre of the town \illav, Mu-roiinded bv gardens, and one 
which eclipsed all others h,id iusl been completed by 1 'eter 
.Sarijeant, a wealthy merchant, (Jii land which he purchased of 
Colonel Shrimptoii. Thi^ was .afleruards known as the I'mv- 
ince House, which is elsewhere descriheil. h'.dward Ward, a 
Cockney traveler, visited lioston in \<>i)'), and thus describes it ; 
■'( )n the southwest side of Massachusetts l'.a\- is llostciU. 
whose name is taken from a town in 1 .incolnsliire and is the 
Metr(.)polis of Xew JMi^land. The h(]\i^es in some parts of 
the town jovne as in London. The buildin!.;s, like their wn- 
men. beini; neat and handsdiuc. .Xnd their streets, like the 
hearts of their male inhabitants, are paved with pebble.' 

Ca]jtain \\ in.Lr. in his "N'oyages and Travels," describes 
Boston as he saw it twenty years later. He says: "The town 
is near two miles in length, and three-<|uarters of a mile 
broad in some jjlaces. and contains about 4,000 houses. .Most 
of them are built of brick and there are about i8,rx)o iniiabi- 
tants. It is much the largest of any town in .\merica. under 
the I'ritish government: they have built several wharves, one 
of which goes by the name of l-ong Wharf, and may well be 
called so, running about icSoo feet into the harbor. Merc 
large ships, with great ease, may br kulcn and unladen: .in 
one side of tlie wharf are w,-ireh< ni^c^ ab'HU the wlmle length 
of it." 

.\ Riiyal < )fficer ^ent tn Auieric.i b\ the ( ii i\-ernment of 
Charles the Second, s.ai.l , ,\ the (nlnuv of Massachusetts 



82 Jl'ulks uiitl Tifllcs .Ihoiit Illstuiic Boston. 

]!a_v: "'Tlierc arc maiiy alilr tn hear arms, lirtwct-n tliirtv and 
forty thousand, four thousand ahmc in tlic town of lloston. 
Their trained handsiuen are twelve troop of horse, and six 
thousand foot : each troop consists of sixty horses besides offi- 
cers: all are well mounted, completely armed with back, 
breast and head pieces, huff coats, carbines and pistols; each 
troo]) distin,s;uished by their coats. The foot are also well 
armed with swords, nuiskets and l)andoliers. Three miles 
fr(im Boston is a castle (if stune. lately built and in good re- 
pair: with f<iur bastions and iiu muted with 88 guns, i6 whole 
culvain, commodious!} ^eateil upon a rising ground, sixty 
paces from the water side, under which at hi.gh water mark 
is a stone battcrv of six guns. There is a small brick fort 
latcK- made at the South End of Boston, with two tiers of 
guns, six in each. < 'ne platform on the \orth side of the 
town I Xiirth Battery) commanding the river to Charlestown. 
maik' of Incise stones and turf. Mere are nmunted five demi- 
culvcrin and twn small guns. I here are in the imblic stores, 
cnmninnh, a thousand pnunds df powder, with other am- 
nuniition and arms, "iroportion.'itely. 

About seven miles away in Dorchester is a powder mill in 
good repair and well wrought. There is in the country great 
quantities of ingredients for powckr. especia.ll}- upon 
islands, where fowls frecpient. and in swamps, where pi.geons 
roost. There is a great i)lent\ of iron ore and as good can 
be made here as anv in .'sp in.". 

From the foregoing account it can l)e seen that for over 
140 years following the settlement. Boston grew- rapidly in 
wealth and population and was the leading city of North 
.\nierica at the outbreak of tne Revolution. The Boston Port 
Bill which closed the harbor and cut off all foreign trade 
for many months, was a serious interruption and crushing 
blow to its commercial supremacy, and it took Boston many 
years to recover from it. 

In 1876, at the celebration if the one hundredth anniver- 
sary of the F.vacuation of Boston by the British, the orator 
of the day, the Rev. deorge P.. Ellis, in his address gave quite 
a vivid word picture of Boston in Revolutionary Davs, from 
which we quote : ■■\\'ell to do, forehanded, were the local 
phrases, by which the general condition of the people would 
have been described. There was a real wealth, too. in the 
h;inds of some, with complacency, luxury and displav. There 
wi-re stately and substanti.-d dwellings, with rich and solid 



Walks and I'alL-s About Historic Boston. 83 

turnishiiis's fur jiarlor, dinint; riHim, hall and chanibcr, with 
plate and tapestrv. hrocades and laces. There were portraits 
bv foreign and domestic artists, of those who were ancestors 
and of those who meant to he ancestors. There were formal 
costumes and manners for tjentry. with ])arade and etiquette, 
a self respectful decoruni in intercourse with their own and 
other classes, warm hosi)itality, good appetites and abundant 
viands, and li(|uids and solids for all. The buildings were de- 
taciied. none of them in blocks. The houses of many of the 
merchant princes and hi.gh magistrates were, relatively, more 
palatial than are any in the city today. They stood conspicu- 
ous and large, surrounded by generous spaces with lawns 
and trees, with fruit and vegetable gardens, and fields for 
pasture, and coach and cattle barns. There were fine e(|uip- 
ments and black coachmen and footmen. There were still 
wide unfenced s|iaces, and declivities and thickets, where the 
barberry bush, the flag and the mullein stalk grew undis- 
turbed. 

"There were many i|uainl old nooks and corners, taverns 
and inns, coffee houses, the drinking vessels in which were 
nut especially ada|)te(l ti 1 that lie\erage — shops designated 
by emblems and symbols, loitering |)laces for news and yossip 
resorts for boys and negroes, for play and roguery and some 
dark holes in wharf or lane. There were some thousand build- 
ings, four being of stone, of which King's Chapel was one 
and that alone remains. P.etween Heacon Street and the foot 
of Park Street stood the Work T louse, the Poor House and 
the P>ridewell, all facing the Common. On the site of Park 
Street Church stood the ( Iranary. and opposite was a large 
manufacturing building which was used by the P>ritish during 
their occupation of the town. The jail occupied the site of 
the ( )ld Court H^ouse — King and Oueen — now State and 
Court Streets, were the most completely covered and lined 
with taverns and dockings, marts and offices of exchange. 
The house provided for the British Governor was opposite 
the "Old South,' standing far back, statelv and CDinnKididits. 
with trees and lawns, extending to Washington Street. The 
( )ld State Mouse, a dignified looking building, lu-ld the lualls 
of the Council and the representatives, with royal portraits 
and adornings. How little is there now which the patriots 
;ind citizens ot old il;i\s wonld recognize were thev to come 
b.ick !" 



5!4 



Walks <iinl I'alkx .Ihoiil Ifistoric Rostoii. 



In I7<'^4. after the clusc (if tlu- Rc\(ilutiiinai\ War. a 1.(311- 
doii iic\vspa[)t.'r iKitcd the arrival ui two ships from Lloston, 
both in ballast, being unable to obtain cargoes of anv sort. 
At that time nothing but American products could be carried 
in American \essels to ['".ngland. It was aliout this time that 
r.ost(]n merchants lie,L;an td lodk fur trade m far distant . -(11111- 
tries and to iiicre:ised facilities fur h.-mdliii'./ the trade. 




The rilliiig ill and making; of new land Ix-gan at a \ery early 
date and much (if it in thuse ila\ s was ddite liy individuals. 
The town, as one has said, "was ]irett\- near all water front." 
Those who lived iin the water front, filled in to increase their 
wiiarfage facilities and those who li\ed oil the hillsides dug 
into the hills to make their land le\el. Where Faneuil 1 lail 
now stands was once the Town Hock, and as early as 1710 
the town tilled in this dock, and in iSjd the town pushed still 
farther into the hay and captured lO-.ooo feet of land, as we 
describe in the .-iccoimt of .Mayor Ouincy's administration. 

The lirst great and systematic undertaking for enlarging 
the area ol 1 loston was begun b\- a C'or]Kjration chartered in 
i<So4 called the h'ront .street I mpnncment. Washington 
Street was the only thoroughftirc rnmiing from the heart of 
the city across the .\eck to Roxburw A new street. I farrison 



Walks and lalks .Ihoiil Historic Bcslou. S3 

Ani'iuk', was made ruiinini; iR-arly ]iarallcl with W'asliinylon 
Street. The hUing in of tin- Hals thus enclosed added nearly 
nine acres of valuable huililiuL; iirtjjjerty. In 1^05, Uriah 
Getting, James Lloyd, h'rancis Cabot Lowell and Harrison 
Gray (Jttis, formed a corporation called the India Wharf 
proprietors and built India Wharf, cumpletini;- it three 
years later. I'l.r tifl\ years it was the headc|uarter^ <<\ liic 
trade with the ( )ricnt and many valuable cargoes froiu Can- 
ton. Calcutta. Russia ;iud the .Mediterranean pDrts were dis- 
charged there. 

The cut shdWs the loni'. line of warehnu^es uu the wharf 
as tliey appeared prii^r tn the bmldini; nf .\tlanlic Aveinie. 
'J"he stores were si>ld to private individuals, save a few, 
which were reserved for the ])roprietors themsehes. There 
were 30 stores in the block. .Many ISostonians of todav can 
recall the time when several large .square riggers were 
moored at the wdiarf, unloading their cargoes of tea, coffee, 
Sjiices ;uiil fruit. .\t the same time this India Wharf iin- 
])rc>\ement was gning cm private enterprise was at work on 
the region west of r.e.-icoii 1 lill. .and Charles .Street was built 
and from this many years later the I'.ack P.ay improvement 
wa,s to dex'elop. Ueacdu Hill was being dug down at about 
the same time and the gra\el was used to fill in the Mill 
I'ond. I'efore it was dug di>wn the hill was as high as the 
tup r.ail at the base of tiie State I louse dome. .\ large jjor 
tiou of the wiirk was done in the vears 1X24-18^^. 

The Xorth Co\ <■ land is now occupied b\- the I'.oston and 
.Maine TeriuinaK .and by officers aiicl ware r(joms of the iron 
.and steel industries .and other large manufacturing plants 
and stores. 1-rom the foot cjf the Common to the uplands 
of ISrookline there was a bn lad expanse of marsh and tidal 
ri\'er. The distance A\as almul two miles and the oid\ 
means of commimication in e.irly d.ays was by a \er\- cir- 
cuitous route. Criah Colting. who was a far sightcfl and 
iniblic spirited citizen, originated the plan of using the rise 
and fall of the tides for industrial labor, which resulted in 
the formation of the lioslou .itid koxbuiy .Mill ( 'orporation, 
which w.as .authorized l<i build a dam from the end of llea- 
con Street at Charles Street to Sewall's Point at I'.ruok- 
line, together with a crossdaiu from a |)oint in Roxburv to 
the main causeway, each dam was to be used as a highwa\-. 
on which the company was empowered to collect tolls. 
I'arker Mill ( )uarr\\ Roxlmrv. furuislied the stone for this 



t!'' Walks and J'allcs About Historic Boston. 

dam. TliiN fiitfrpri-c was undertaken and pn isecuted 
aLi'ainst the w islies ,,{ nian\- citizens. In lulv 1S21. a State 
(1 innnissicin L;a\ e the cnpnratiMn |jermissi(in In till in the 
land fur residential purposes. Alx.ut the middle nf the last 
eentury the d )inmon\\ealth came intn ])nsse^si( m of a large 
portion (if the unfilled territory. In iSh4 the land was rap- 
idly filled in, streets were laid out. and as a result we have 
today the beautiful Back I'.ay district, a section unsurpassed 
by any city in the land. .\lan\ will recall the old Mill Dam 
road, especialh- in the winter ^ea^on. when the slei^hinu; 
was </"ood and the road filled with ele'.^ant turnout-, in which 




Blnvk '</ !<l'>r<s. (II, I hull,, \\l,„,i 



were the elite (.if the city, watchiuL; the fa-t trcjtter-. dri\en 
by their wealthy owners. ('ert;iinl\ no auto parade can 
compare in point of beauty or attractix ene-v with tlio-e old 
time winter day- ou the Mill |),iin. 

The filliuL; in of the I'.ack r.a\ wa- followc' b\- the layinii 
out and Inu'ldiuL; of .Vtl.intii- \\enue, a broad water front 
-trt-et, e.xlendiuL; from .^nmmer .Street to Commerci;d 
W h.irf. ab-orbiui;- that portion ,,f I'.road Street from Sum- 
mer Street to Rowe'- W liarf. 

The ,;^ra\el for this impro\ement was obtained from I'ort 
llill which wa- thus brought down to a le\el and a lar.i^e 
and valuable and nuich neeiled area was .idded to the busi- 
ness ilistrict of the city. The South to\e was filled with 
eartlt brought from R<ixbur\- and I )orchester. ( )n this land 
is the South Terminal Station, the head(piarters of the Xew- 
^'ork. Xew Haven and llartford Railro;id Conipanx . There 
are also city building;-, a l.ar^e ;ind line modern hotel, milK. 
bu-ines- blocks and hnnber yard-. .\11 these imiir<i\emeuts 



IValks and Talks About Historic Boston. 87 

liave increased the city's tax lands hy millions of dollars, 
besides addinjn' to the appearance of the city in the eyes of 
strang'ers and contrilnitinii' to the convenience of all her 
citizens. 

The latest rcclani.-itinn and inipri i\ cnicnt is the Charles 
River pjnhanknu-nt and C'hark-s l\i\er I'.asin. Here a liroad 
esplanade. t,nv and a half miles lon.Q', horders a permanent 
basin. 

The growth of I'.ostun 1)\ reclamation, has l)een mar- 
velous, showing;- man's endeavor and ability to o\ercome 
natural and formidable obstacles. In former days, Boston 
was practically an island, .^he is now inseparably a part of 
the mainland. 



This ancient liuiMini^, ci\i;l(/il in I74J^. '^tanils nn tliu sile 
iif tlu' t-arlicst market ])lacc ni tilt- tdwn. 'J'lu- tii>t Town 
iliiux- was built i)f wciikI in i(>37. iruni fumN l)<--i|m-atlie(i to 
the tiiwn lor tliat |jurp(i-e hy Capt. RoVjert l\ca\nr. tile first 
eiinnnamler df the Aneieiit and I h ini )ral)le Artillery C'i)ni- 
[Kiny. That IniildinLT went ilnwn in the i;reat fin- nf 1711 
which destroyed nian\ nther litnldimns in that vicinit\. 

In our article on the Ancient and Honoralile Artillery 
Company, we give a ^Imrt sketch of Ca]5tain Keayne and of 
his being summoned before the -Magistrate's of the town, 
tried, found guilty, and puni--hed b\ iinpris( iiinient. for mak- 
ing too much money in his business. .\t his death in \t<^X. 
he left three hitndred |)oiinils to lloston for tlie erection of 
a Town House, which, as one writer has remarked, "was 
heaping coals of fire upon the heads of his townsmen." lie 
outlined that the Town I louse should contain a market 
place, room for the courts, room for the Townsmen, C'(jm- 
nii^sioners, for a hhrar\-, a galler\- for the hdders a room for 
an armory, and rooms for merchants and masters of vesseK. 
.\fter the matter was dnl\ considered l>y tile selectmen, tlie 
town chose a committee to ])repare iilan- for the 'i'o\\n 
Mouse. This conniiittee was given full jiower in .\ugust. 
lf)5S. to erect a building to bind the town for the ])ayment 
of the contract jirice. The building was sixt\-six feet long, 
thirty-six feet wide, set u]ion twt-nty-oiie pillars ten feet high. 
The second story wa^ partitioned otT, making the rooms de- 
sired. There was ;i w.alk on top, fifti-en feet wide, with tw'i 
turrets, and balusters and rails around the walk. 

The buildini:; cost six hundred .-iinl ei,L;ht\ p(Jinids, and the 
lialance re(|uired in addition to the Iegac\ of ( aptaiii Keavne 
was contributed b\ one hundred and four citizens. The fire 
that burned this Ti 'W 11 llousc in 1711, burned all the houses 
from School Street to I )o( k .^(|uare. all the upper part of 
King Street, and the old .Meeting I bnise. The "Xews Let- 
ter" ascrilied the source of the fire to an old Scotch woman 
whr] lived in a tenement at the head of the sti-eet. .\ fire slie 



Walks unci lalk's About Historic Boston. ») 

was usini^ spread tn scinu' tiiips and other C(inilinstil)lcs near 
li\, and tliencr t<i llie tcnenicnl in which slic livc<h A now 
Town llciiisc wa^ iinint(hati'l\ rri;rtr<l. i>ncdialf of the cx- 
|icnses l)eint; nici li\ (hr I 'k wince, and i ine-(|nai1ei- h\' the 




-^m-' 



Thr ()l,l Shih II., IIS. 



'I'nwn (if r.iisinn. and ()ne-c|naitc-r h\ tile C nmitx <if Snttcilk. 
The new hnihhnL; was of hriek, i.ne hnn(hed ami ten feet 
luni:;, tlhn\-eiL;ht feel wuK-, and pnnidi'd aeei inline Hhitii ms 
fnr the (inxeninr, the funrts, the Seeietai\ nf the I'r.ninee. 
and for tlie ReL;i>ter nf Deeds. This huildiiii; wa- partiaHv 
hiirned in amither i^icat tile in 1747, ami the ])rest'nl -^tnie- 



'XJ ll'iilks ami I'lilks .Ihoiil Histuric Boston. 

tmc built in 1748. has an cxti-riur practically the same. I'rc- 
vious tu tht RfViilnliMn this building- was the official head- 
quarters of the Rii\al (invernors and the Provincial Council, 
and the leoislature of the (■(ilony held its sessions there. 

When tlie new State I louse <>u Heacon Hill was conipletrd 
in 171)8. the ( ireat and ( ieneral Court nio\ed into it. and all 
the State Officers wen- transferred to the new building. .Some 
events of great historical moment have occmred in and 
around the old buildui!.;. Here occurred the Revolution of 
1O81), when the Colony rebelled against the administration 
of Sir Edmund Andros. Here in 1699 was hebl the trial of 
that great and famous |iirate. Captain Kidd. who alter his 
conviction was confnied until his execution in the damj) and 
gloomy prison on Cotu-t Street. That building was the ]ire- 
decessor of the ('ourt Ibjuse recently demolished to make 
way for the annex to r.osion Citv Hall. 

The Bo.ston Massacre .\larcli, 1770, occuried just in front 
of the balcony (jf the building, ami when I'.ostou was in the 
wildest excitement o\er the odious Stamp .\ct, her citizens 
burned stam|ie<l ( learance^ in front of its doors. I'rom the 
balcony looking down State Street was read the news of the 
death of ( leorge the Second, and the accession of ( ieorge the 
Third t(i the thnme. In this old State House in the words of 
Samuel .\dams, "Independence was born." In the mind of 
every American patriot it will ever be associated wdth Samuel 
Adams' menior.ilije interview with ("lOvernor Hutchinson, 
after the lioston .Massacre, when, repr\-senting- the outraged 
citizens assembled at the ( )ld South Meeting House, he de- 
manded the removal of all the I'.ritish troo]>s in I'.ostou to 
Castle William in the harbor. In this ( »ld Stale House in 
1778. the Count I )'l-'staing, ( oinmander of the l'"reiich fleet, 
was receiveil by ( ioxernor Hancock. In it 1 lenerals Howe, 
Clinton and < ia.ge held a Council of W'.ir before the battle of 
I'.unker Hill. C)n Jnl\- i8tli. 1776, from the famous East win- 
dow. Colonel Crafts rea.l to the assembled multitude the 
Declaration of [ndepen<lence. 

(Ieneral Washington in 17S1) as he st 1 upon the bal- 

con\ received a gi'eat ovation fr< Jiii the citizens, and re\iewed 
a long procession in his honor. Here |olm Hancock was 
inau.gurated Mrst ( lovernor of the Commonwealth. The 
plans for the capture of l.ouisbur.g — a great event in the 
pioxincial history of .Massachusetts — were conceived and 
Completed within the walls of the ( )]d State House. In its 



JJ\ilks and lalks .\ho„l Historic Boston. «l 

('oiirl Rodiii. lanio < )lis niailc his i;rcat pica ai^ainst tile 
\\ rits iif Assi^tain'c, and four years later, in the same Court 
l\i 1(1111. was lu-lil the trial of ('aptain IVeston and his soldiers, 
wliii t(jiik part in the '■Huston Massacre." ( iovernor Gas^e 
was sworn into <it¥ice in the hall of the "( )1<1 State House in 
1774. h'roni l()(>2 until 1774-7.S. when the Province con- 
cluded to dispense with its (lovernnrs. eleven such L'hief 
-Ma.ti'istrates had received tlie l\u\ al ( ninniissiun. and had 
been ]iroclainied to the people from the State House." 

The Constitution of the State of .Massachusetts was 
jilanned in this liuildins;'. ( )riginall\- the stee])le \\as iimcli 
hi.£;"her than at ])resent, and where tlie clock now is. was once 
a Ljreat sun dial. When the I'.ritish evacuated Ho^ton. 
.March 17, 177'). the\ look with them from the t'onncil 
t'hamher of tlie ( )ld 'I'dwii 1 lou^e. tlie "Royal C'oat of .\rnis" 
to St. T"hii. ,\'ew I'.runswirk. and set it u]i in Trinity L'hurch 
in that town. Tt was in this church that the Rev. .Mathew 
r'.\les. wild after his lianishment fn nn I'.ostnn 1 >n account of 
his ]u-oniiuiiced Tory sentiments. served as Rector for 
twenty-tive \ ears, where liis remains 111 iw re|iose. When the 
threat tire swept over St. John o\'c'i- thirt\ \ears ai^n. and 
TrinitN Church \\eiit down, tliis (Hat of .Vrius il.icm and 
I'nicorni was the i>n\\ ndic sa\(d. and is now set up in the 
new Trinit\ C.'lmrcli. llistiir\ has lianded dnwn the stor\ of 
a little e\ent which occurreil nmler the shadow of this old 
buildiui;-. It was ;i l''esti\al to celehrate the triumph of the 
I'Tt'iich Re\-( ihition. ami was held jamiary _'.V 1 70,v A long 
table was set nut in the imijdle (if State Street, exteiidin.c; 
t'nim the ( )1(1 State Ibiusc tn Killix Street. The feature of 
the lian(|Uet was an (i\ which wcii^lieil looo |Hiunds. roasted 
whole, and draw 11 in triumph.d |ir( icessi( m. b\ I'l lidrses 
throu,<j-h the principal streets, befurc L;racinL; the fest.al lio.ird. 
Two great ho.gsheads (if punch fdllowcd (in a secdud cart, 
and a third was liea|ied high with bi-ead. ."state Street was 
then a lar.geK residential district, and ronfs and balconies 
were crowded with s])ectatdrs. 'riie\ did iidt remain king, 
for the diners, ])ronipted |ierhaps b\ the liberality df the 
punch, began to hurl iiieces df the d\ into the air. It was 
Udt a welcome sulistitut(,' fm- cunfetti. and the dinner- finally 
bmke up in disdrder. A repetitidii (if this dul df d(i(ir feast, 
in the same lucation. tdd.i\ wduld c.iuse nmre cdiifiisidn tli.an 
the greatest financial |ianic." 

In the 17th i-enturv tlie ]iublic wliiii]iing jiost and the 



■)-' Walks ,111,1 T,<IL's .11',', II Historic Bostuii. 

>l<ickN were in the imiiK-iliatc \icinitv iif the luiililiiiL;. L'p 
til witliin a fuw \ rai">. a lai"j;r part nf tlu- liiiililniL; lia<l l)t-L-ii 
i;"iveii liver td nirrcantilc imi pi iso. xieldiny a irvcniK- to 
the cit\, hut it is iinw rem i\ alcd ami will he prrserxed ami 
cart'd fur as an histnrical rtdie. The upper sturies are dCCII- 
pied h\ the I'.Dstuuian Siiciet). Tliis Sucietx was incor- 
piirated in iSSi, and its nhjeet is "iiri mii itino the studx' of 
the hisi(ir\ i >l" I'.dstiin. and the preser\atiiin nf its ei >uti.t;iii- 
ties, ;ind the cullectinn 1)\ ^ift, Inan i ir purchase, luiiiks. man- 
uscripts and pictures of an historical iiatiu'e. " Already the 
Societ\ has a \aluahle cnllection which is npen dail\ ti > the 
inspectinn of the |)ulilic duriut; the liusiness hours i if the day. 
In the main hall is a ver\ lari^e nnuid tahle arnund which 
(lii\ernors nf the State and their t'oinicilli irs ha\e sat. in 
the last centur\ and discussed nian\ matters aft'eclini;- the 
weal III- wiie i if tlu- ( i imnn mwcalth. It was furnierh in the 
I'liuncil (Iianihei- nf the present State I louse, hut din-inq- 
(io\crniir I'lenjannn h. lUitler's adnunislratii m, it was sent to 
the ( )1,1 State llnuse. as he Iielieved it came fn HU there 
and sluudd he carefulK preserved as an histnrical relic. 
There is aKn in this hall a tahle that was used in the Han- 
cock Mouse, and a chair that heliin.u;eil to Madam Dorothy 
Hancock. A desk of John Ilancock's is still ilnini; o^ood 
ser\ice in the rmitn of the Secretar\ . (l\er the rec;istr\' 
desk hani^s a jiicttu'e of one of the faninus I'.nstiin Tea 
Party. A Lantern which hnni; on the l.iherty Tree at the 
illumination celehratini;- the repeal i if the Stamp Act hangs 
in the main hall, i )ne mum i if the Societx's is called the 
"(_"( mnnissii in Roum." and here framed and huni^' u]iiin the 
walls are ( i nnnussn .us given li\ l\ii\al and State < iox'ern- 
ment ti i xarinus jiersnus. fur \arious offices, ninsih nnlitary. 
In the casi-s arnund tin.' Inmt hall are man\ exceedinglv 
interestiuL; relics I'lates .and Sugar I'mwls used li\ ( lov- 
ernnr I I utclnnsi in. .a cup and saucer used h\ the nfficers of 
the Tnited States frigate '■('i institntH m."' ( )ne case is knnwn 
as the "Ilancnck l.'ase" and cnntaius main things th.at «ince 
helonged to John Hancock and his lanuh. Theie is a red 
\el\et coat. Iilue fi.gured silk waistcnat. ;ind drah trunks, 
which diiulitless were worn li\ him at snci.al fiuictinus nron 
gala nccasions: a long wallet with his name stam]ied on it; 
shiie huiddes, ke\s of the nionis nf his hnuse. nmst ponder- 
iius att.airs; ])itcher and ]iunch ImwI. honks frnui his church 
pew. prohahK I'.r.iltle Street (. hurch, his large I'amily Hihle 



Walks and Titlks .Ihoiil llistorn- Boston. a? 

and a Honk "i (nniiiKin I'ra\rr lai;;)- t'noiis;li l< ir a iuil|)it 
desk: a hill lu-ad fnnii l1i^ CdnntiiiL; liousi-, wliicli i-- a rim- 
specimen of the eiiL;ra\er'> art. There are two |)airs nf kid 
slippers that were worn li\ l)iir(ithy <J. 

Ariunid these rndnis are nian\ portraits nf men wlm 
helped Innlil this Xation. fhere are Sanmel Adams, James 
Otis, Daniel Wehster and others. The swini; si^ii. hearint;- a 
roiiijhlv execnteil i)ortrait of John llaneoek. \v>\\ (|ihetl\ re- 
])oses in a corner of the Mall. It swmiL; for man\- \ ears in 
front of the old llancock Taxern. If it coidd onl\ speak, 
what reminiscences it conld relate! 




1 !„■ Tllli.in'l' IS ,„l III, Hillrniiii „/ //,, (,/,/ Sl.ll, II,. 



'1 he .""^ocietx ni its l.ilirarx Room has a wealth of papers, 
mamisciipts and honl^s of i^reat nUeresi t<i the stndent of 
local and of national histor\, and to this the pnhlic has free 



The Cit\ ( lovernment of I'.oston is to he con^jratnlated on 
its action in restorins;- this l)nililinL; to hs old time -iniple 
grandeur, and makini;- it. like the < )ld .^onth and h'anenil 
Hall, an ohjecl lesson to all the cili/ens, native .and foreign 
born, cinphasizini^ the fact that character towers far above 
the nu're accnnmlaticin of riches. 



y4 IP'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

In tlie huildiiii^ are the fullowiiio- tablets, viz: — 

Site of Public Market I'laee 

I ''57 

First Teiwii llduse 

Burnt 171 1. Rebuilt 171,^ 

Occupied by 

The Great and (ieueral ( nurt 

and 

The Roval (iovenmr I'lider 

George I. II, 111. 



17X0 

jMilX M,\\C( )CK 

Signer <if 

The Declaration <if liide|iendcnce 

was here inau.<.;"urated 

I'irst Governor of 

The Conimonwealth of Massachusettr 

1780—1703 

( )ccupied by 

The (ieneral Court 

1830 — 1830 

Bv the Citv Governor. 



KXTI-.RK )k TAl'.LKTS. 
At the We^t b'.nd is tile fdUnwni^ lablel: 

(.)Li) sTATh; IK >rsi:. 

Site I if the .Ancient .Market Ibnise 

Site (if the l-'ir>t Tiiwn llnuse 

l''rected l(>58 — ilurned 1711. 

This I'.uildint;' l'>ected 171J. 

"Idere the C hild Independence was horn." 

Sani. .\dams. 

\\'ashinL;t<in here received the tribute 

of an enfranchised jieople — i 78r). 

In I'se as a City Mall 1830— 183.). 



ll'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

At the East End:— 

OLD STATI-. IK )l"SI':. 

From the Balconv was ]irix-lainied 

The Repeal of tlie Stani]) Act 

1 766 

'l"he Declaratimi of Indepeiidetice 

I -;() 

I'eaee witli iMi^laiid 

( )n the South side of the ( )ld State House. 

OLD STATE HOUSE. 
Gov. Andrew's tvrannv — here overthrown. 

i68v 

James ( )U> heie ma<le his speech aL;ainst the 

Writs of .Assistance. 

1766 

On the \orth Side: 

OLD STATi: IK )rSi'. 

Captain iVeston and his soldiers 

Here tried for killing;- three citizens in tlie 

lloston .Massacre — 1770 

Demand here made for renuival of 

Rritish troops from lio.ston — 177!^^ 

State Constitution here i)roclaiineil 

17S,, 




l;i,i linnuil 



Jfancuil liiill 
'?If)e isuBtirnots nnti tfjr f iinriiil jPtimilp 

There is no hall in America so ricli in historical niciiiorics 
and associations as this ohl C'ra<llc of Liberty. "Its name 
calls to mind that Hoston group of l-'rcnch Huguenots who 
were such zealous and active ])atriots in the davs of the 
Revolution: Paul Revere, a leader of the Koston Tea Partv. 
and the hero of the famous midnight ride: Richard Dana, 
the people's champion in their fight against the Stani|) Act: 
and James Bowdoin. who proved himself a thorn in the flesh 
of the royal governors." These exiles from I'rance, driven 
hither li\' a hitter religious persecution, were, numericalh', 
coinpar;itivel\ insignificant ;imong the foun<lers of the re- 
public, but "the) entered with e.arnestness and vigour into all 
the ho])es and ])lans of the new nation. They gave ])ropertv 
and life in Ijehalf of the principles thev had so eagerh- cliam- 
pioned in P'rance. They faced danger and had their full 
share i )f sufTering in the struggle for independence." ( )f 
these refugees as a whole boil\-. llenr\- Cabot Lodge speaks 
as follows: "1 believe that in ])r( iportii in to their numbers, the. 
Huguenots produced and gave to the American Republic 
more men of ability than any other race." In making this 
statement he had in mind the long roll of illustrious names — 
all Huguenots, or of Huguenot descent, in all the walks of life 
who have adf)rned the jiages of .\nierican history. 

One of the foremost families of these early settlers from 
France was that of l''auenil — name iniliss(.)lubly associated 
with Boston. In a list <if the l-'reiich nationality admitted 
into the \\n\ (dlonx by the < lo\ernor and (."ouncil, on b'eliru- 
arv I, if)i^)i, are the names i if I'.enjaiuin, John and Andrew 
I'"aneuil. Benjaiuiii chose X'ew ^'ork as his residence, estab- 
lishing a home there, and niarr\ing a I'rench lady of that 
place. His remains are buried in 'i'rinity churchyard. An- 
drew, Iirother of Benjamin, was one of the most jirominent 
members (.)f the Hu.guenot colony in r.oston, a.nd a leader 
in the organization of the French Protestant Church. He 
escaped from I'rauce and lived for a time in Holland. 



')S fr(7/A'^- ()/((/ 7;;//:^; ,ll>oiit Historic Boston. 

Andi'fu 's name appears on the tax list of Hiistun, in i("m. 
ami it is plain that he was a man uf affairs in the tnwn at 
that time. It is evident that he was possessed of qnite an es- 
tate in France, and was fortunate enmii^h to be able to take 
a goodly portion with him when lie left his native land, and 
that he did not come empty handed to Jioston. He was soon 
well established in a lucrative business antl the owner ol 
larg'e real estate interests. J lis warehouse was on I'.utler 
Square, out of ."^tate Street, and his mansion, one of the fin- 
est in the town, surroimded by seven acres of admiraljly kept 
grounds, was on Treniont Street, ojiposite King's L'hapel 
Burying Grouini. 

Andrew Faneuil was a positive, pecuHar and interesting 
character. He had no cliil<lren, Imt tmdertook the care of 
three of his brother Benjamin's children, two sons, Benjamin 
and Peter, and .Mary Anne, their sister. He chose Benjamin, 
his nephew, for his heir, on the one con<lition that the young 
man should never marr\. h'or a while all went well, but at 
last the yotmg man surrendered to the charms of Miss Mary 
Cutler, and sacrificed his brilli.aiu prosjiects on the altar of 
matrimony. 

Andrew then turned to Benjamin's brother Peter, and he 
became the heir presumptive ami business partner of his 
uncle. Benjamin prospered in business on his own account, 
three of his sisters married I'.oston citi/.ens. a clergyman, a 
lawver, and a jirospernus merchant, so that the Faneuil tani- 
il\" was well estalilished in the business and social life in 
Boston. 

Andrew Faneuil died in l''ebruary. 1738, and had a ver\ 
large and imposing funeral. The newspaper of that day said 
of it, "Last ^Monday, the ciirpse of Andrew Faneuil, Esq., 
whose death we mentioned in oin- last issue was honorably 
interred here, aliove lioo persons of all ranks, beside the 
moiH-ners. following the ccjrpse, also a \ast number of spec- 
tators were gathered on the occasion, at \vhich time the half 
minute guns from on board several vessels were discharged. 
And 'tis supposed that as the .gentleman's fortune was the 
greatest of anv among us. so his funeral was the most gen- 
erous and expensive of anv that has been known here. By 
liis will he left the warehouse in trust for the support of the 
ministers and eblers of the french church, in Boston, whicli 
be vtaiuichh' su|)piirted." It w.as never known bow much 
propert\ he left. Init he w;i~ considered the richest nierch.ant 



Walks (111(1 Talks .Iboiit Historic !:!(jstoii. <)'> 

in the in-ovimx-, and I'cler sncccccU-il to tlir hnsint-s- ami 
estate. He was at this time 38 years old. a large and curpn- 
leiit man, of a g-enial disposition, fond of display and of s'c.iod 
living and dispensed an open handed hospitality. As the 
]'"rench church waned, Peter Faneiiil became worshipper at 
Trinity Church, where his brother-in-law, the Rev. Adding- 
ton Davenport, was rector. In his circle of intimates he be- 
came known as the "jolly IJachelor," which name he gave to 
one of his shi|)s. lli> sister. Mary .\nne, presided witli grace 
over his fine establishment. WJiile doing a very extensive 
business which demanded most of his time, still he took a 
great interest in the welfare of his neighbors, and in the 
future good of lloston. He saw that one of the great needs 
of the town was a local market, and to test the public senti- 
ment in this res])ect he sent to the Jtoard of Selectmen a ])e- 
tition signed ]:)y three hundred and fiirt\ prominent citizens. 
The petition stated that "Peter l-'anenil, I'^^i. hath been gen- 
erously pleased to offer at his own cost ami charge to erect 
and build a noble and complete structure or edifice t(j lie im- 
proved for a market for the sole usr. benefit and advantage 
•of the town provided that the town of lloston would pass a 
vote for that jun-pose and lay the same under such regula- 
tions as shall be thought necessar\ . and cimstanth' supiiort 
it for the said nse." ."-^o the warr.ant f( ir the tow 11 meeting 
was posted and the matter was iliscussed, jiro and con, for 
there was great dixisidii of npinicin. There were y2'/ liallots 
cast, and the \eas won by only seven votes. Thus near did 
I'.oston come to losing I'aneuil Hall. I'.ut I'cter Faneuil's 
plan included a public meeting hall, in ;uldition to a market. 
an<l it was due to him that the i)eo|ilc had a forum. In 
.\ugust, 1742, after twn years s|)ent ujion the work, the .'Se- 
lectmen were informed that the market was finshed, and on 
.Sept. loth. the keys were delivered to the town authorities. 
There had been a great change in public opinion, and the cit- 
izens unanimr)usly voted to "acce])t this most noble and gen- 
erous benefaction for the use and intention they are designed 
for." It was given upon the motion of Thomas Hutchinson, 
later royal governor, "that in testimony of the town's grati- 
tude to the said Peter h'aneuil, Esq., and to perpetuate his 
memory, the hall o\er the market place be named Faneuil 
Hall." In res])onse Mr. Faneuil said: "I hope what 1 have 
done will be for the service of the whole countr\-." He little 
thought that th()se simple words were truly prophetic. \'<y 



loo Walks anil Tiilhs .Ihoiit Historic Hostnii. 

\(itt-. a full Ifiigth portrait was painted uf him, at tin- i-xpense 
(jf the town, and placed in the hall, and the l-'aneuil coat of 
arms, so much prized Ijy tlie merchant, was carved and gilded 
bv Moses Deshon, bouslit by the town and likewise set np 
in the hall. The selectmen immediately began to meet in the 
new and more comfortable cjuarters provided for them, and 
selected one of their number "to purchase two pairs of brass 
candlesticks, with steel snuti'ers, and a jioker for the town's 
use." The Iniilding given b\ I'eter h'aneuil was regarded as 
the greatest munificence the town of Iduston had received. It 
was l)uilt of brick, two stories high, and in comparison with 
other liuildings in the vicinity of Dock Square, presented a 
commanding appearance. 

With the exception of the ( )ld State House, all the build- 
ings that surrounded I'aneuil Hall have been re|ilaced. Hut 
Faneuil Hall stands and will remain, as king as the ]iower of 
patriotic citizens can letaiu it. The force of sentiment is 
seen in its preservation; and many generations \ et unborn 
will early learn to cherish this Xew England forum. The ori- 
ginal building was burned in the destructive tire of Januar\- 
I2th. l/fii. and was rebuilt by money secured b\ a lottery, 
the tickets being signed b\ lohn Hancock. It was eulargetl 
and nuich altered in ap]iearance in iSo^-'i under direction of 
C'liarles I'.ulfinch. who designed the State House on Ueacon 
Hill, and in iScjS was pi-actically i-ebuilt with steel walls. 
though the I'.ultincli appe.-irance was retained outside and 
within. 

While ouK a small poi'tion uf the oiMginal hall gi\-en by 
I'eler kaiieiul reiu.ains, it is still I'aneuil Mall with all its 
sacred associations. I'eter l^'aneinl died the next \-ear after 
his market ;iud hall had been gi\en to I'.oston. .M.arch 3, 
1743. The market bell was tolled from one o'clock until the 
funeral was o\er, li\ town order, and e\er\ lioUor w;is paid 
to his mt'nior\ . Ills ol)ituar\ on the Xew s Letter s.iid: "lie 
was a most geuerous s]>irit, whose hospitaht\ to all ;uid se- 
cret unbounded charitx to the 1 r, made Ins hfe a jiublic 

blessing, and his death a general loss to. and uui\ersall\ re- 
grette(l li\ the inhabitants. Tlu' most ].iublic s]>iriteil m.ui in 
all ri.'gards that exc-r \et a]i|ieared on the .Vortlu'rn conti- 
nent of .\merica." There was :i public Meinori;il Service, 
John l.iivtdl, master of the I'.osinn Latin .School, delivered 
the funeral oration in I'.aneuil Mall, and this was the begin- 
niig of snch si-rxii-es there. |-'roiu this conuuon testiniou\" to 



llalks and hilLs .Ihoiil Historic IU,slon. I'u 

his cliarit). lu- must lia\c l)i.Tn intitlcd to lai'Ljc praise as a 
l)C'iit'fact(ir III tile needy. He failed to make a will, and the 
■estate which his uncle expressly withheld from his brother 
Benjamin now came into the custody of that individual, and a 
tjood share of it into his possession. The estate was soon 
scattered. The h'aneuils durint;- the Revolutionary days were 
amouq; the Turies and tied either to l'jiL;land or .\ova Scotia, 
rile h'aueuil family tcmili is in the westerh' corner of the 
I iranarv lliirx ini; < irnuiid. .\ndre\\ .uiil Peter Fancuil will 




c\iM- he aimniL; the r,ntc(l naiiH-> i .f the llui.;ueuot settlers in 
tlu- new wiirld. They represented in m.iiu resi^ects the best 
lr.iU~ i<\ llic 1 l\ii.;uenots' character. an<l sliow what splendid 
material h ranee lo>t tlir(iu<;ii lu-r misi^uided policw 

\\1iene\'er an\ i.;reat jmlitical (H- mmal i|uc>tion has a.fji- 
tatecl the minds and hearts of the ])eo[)le. there has been a 
iiatherius' at l-'aneiiil Hall fur a full and free discussiun. In 
those stormy \ears ]jrecedini^ the Revolution, the patriots 
assembled within its walK and denoimceil I'.ritish t\rannv 
or promulgated resolmiuus and ]ietitiiins tu Kini; ( ie(iriL;e 
and his ministers. In I77'>. dmauL; tlieir occnpaliun (if i'.us- 
ton. the I'.ritish lield theatrical ]ierfi irm;nices there. In jan- 
iiar\ . 177(1. a lar^c audii'iice had gathered ti 1 witness a farci 



loj H'alks and Talks .llunif Historic Boston. 

cnactt'd by liritish soldiers and officers. It was entitled '"The 
Blockade of Boston."" [irobably written by some talented Brit- 
ish officer and fnll of sarcasm on Washington and his Conti- 
nentals, who had kept them closely penned np in the little 
town for several months. Tliis evening, (General Bnrgoyne, 
the loyalists" beau ideal nf a soldier, had a leading part. The 
audience were greatly enjoying the play, when, right in the 
midst of their hilarity a British soldier rushed into the room 
and shouted "The Yankees are attacking our works on Bun- 
ker Hill."" General Howe and his subordinates rushed from 
the hall and sped to Charlestown. The Continentals had 
burned several houses and cajstured five redcoats. 

In the years preceding the Revolution, when it could nrit 
Contain the crowds who sought adiuittance. the meeting fre- 
(|uently adjnurne.l to the ( )1(1 South Meeting House, It has 
lieen iniiiartial in its hos])italit\ . .\nti-.Slavery agitati)rs and 
]iri'--.laverv defenders have ])rcsented their arguments and 
;iired their eloquence to the people assembled them. Here 
Riibert Toombs, of Ceorgia. an Extremist on the slavery ques- 
tion, spoke a few ^ears before the civil war, and was listened 
to with respect if not with ai)|)ri)1)ation. He is said to have 
made tlie statement, that he •'wnuld call the roll of his slaves 
under the shadow . if Bunker Hill." We do n')t believe he 
said that in Faneuil Hall. I'rexinus to that A'isit a little inci- 
dent occurred there whicli i'' wurthv of recortl. In the early 
days of the .\nti-Slavcry excitement, a lueeting of the citizens 
was called for the piupose of ]iassing a series of resolutions 
'111 th:U subject. The object was to sav something wdiich 
would a]ipease the South. ( >f the audience aliout tw(j-thirds 
.appeared to lie on the side of the South, while the other 
third were in perfect earnest on the other side. Mr. 1 'hillips 
took the staml ami for some time kejit his u|)ponents at ba\ . 
In the course of his speecli he made the declaration "that we 
now had more cause for ;ilarm thau our forefathers had at 
the time of the Revolution. '" I'his roused tlie majority, and 
they cried "Xol Xo| X'd" with all the lungs which they ])os- 
sessed and with a long continued sh<iut. l)uring this out- 
burst Mr. riiilhiis stiMiil ;is nicjti' mless as a statue, with ^m> 
trace of excitement. Wlien the fury of the majority had 
''pent itself, ■ ir their strength was exhausteil, Mr. I'liilh])^ 
tre;ited them ti i llu-se remarkable wurds: "f.ames ( )iis tluui- 
ilered in this hall, w lien the King dare<I t"Uch the p. ickets of 
the |ie. i|ilr. How much mi in.- terrible wnuld li.ixe been that 



Jl'alks and 'J'alks About Historic Boston. I'u 

ilnindcr if In- liad daixd tn piU a |ia<ll<ick (in their lips!" Tlu 
storm was imw traii^trrrcd In tlic otlu-r Ijrancli nf tlu- amli 
ence, which was in nn wise slnw tn enjoy the privilej^e. The 
speaker triumphed and I'mislu-d his address undisturhed. 
Xearlv e\er\- prominent man in the Xation has spoken from 
its i)latfiirm and felt the inspiration of the place. The "dreat 
expounder of the (constitution. Daniel Wehster, the jiolished 
<.irator, Edward Kverett, and the silver tongued statesman. 
James ("■. Hlaine. have held great crowds spell bound by their 
eloquence. Its d(Hir> ha\f alwa\s swung open to lovers of 
freedom, who ha\e been exiled fr(im their native lands. Here 
Louis Kossuth lectured and suld llnngarian lionds. The 
unfortunate liave fnund a refuge within its walls, the crew 
and passengers of a vessel wrecked in I'xistcin harlmr. Wire 
quartered in Faneuil Hall until ntlu'r ]>rc i\-isii m cmdd lie 
made for them. The courtesies and welcome of Hostun in 
distinguished foreigners, have been extended in this old Hall- 
Here the Marcpiis dc Lafayette, loved and revered b\ all 
patriotic .Americans, was recei\ed on the occasion of his visit 
in 1824, also the ]).ilished Cnunt I )'h:stang. Daniel ^\■el)ster 
had two great receptions in h'aneuil Hall — one in 1S3S. a few 
years after his celebrated reply to Haynes — and ai^ain in 1S32, 
a few months before his death at Marshtield. 

In 1858. Jefferson Davis was the gue^t ,i\ the lity nf I'.os- 
ton and stood in the cild hall. Three \ears later, he was the 
President nf the Sduthern t 1 mfederacy. It has been the 
.scene of lianqnets of fraternal .and jiatrintic societies, where 
wit and music had full swa\. I'.nt n<it all occasions have l.ieen 
festive and jindus. When the great men of the State or Xa- 
tion ha\e [lassed awa\'. the citizens have assembled at ban- 
enil Hall, to do honor to their memory and to eulogize their 
worth. In the white heat nf ]i(ilitical camjiaigns. it has been 
the great rall\ing ]iiiini fur ,ill p.arties. and its walls have 
resounded with cheers and ;i]i|ilause. Its broad, tree atmo- 
sphere takes Ud co,L;tiizance of the difl'erences of religions or 
political creeds. It is the great I'drum of Boston and Mass- 
achusetts, always open to the people, where they may meet 
and discuss any to])ics of vital interest. During the civil wa;- 
manv Union regiments were quartered here, and they started 
for the scene of conflict frnm under the shadow. To many 
of those noble fellows it was their last view of this Temple <if 
Freedom. 

In July. 186,^, when the Draft Ri"t broke <iut in llnstiin. 



I04 ll'alk's and Talhs About I list, oii Boston. 

tlu' l''i.irt\-l-"iftli Massachusetts l\e.t;inu'iit. which hail recently 
retunie<l frniii its ser\ice in the fielil. were (|uartered in the 
llall. and did I'rdxcist I )iit\- in its immediate vicinit\ and in 
(ither parts uf the city. 

Idle Annual Haminets (.f the Citv el I'M.ston t(. its Medal 



f^ 




hifrr , -„ 







finiruil Hall. I'.IKI 



Scholars were j^iven in h'aneuil llall. The widter recalls the 
I'lie i;iven in |ul\, 1S53. In tlii' .Xnrth u;;dlei'y were the girls 
dressei] in white wearin;^- their nie(lals, and dp]" "site in the 
South ^allerx were the l)ii\s wearini; their I'ranklin .Medals. 
( )n tin.' ]ilatfiirni were tlie .\la\iir and nuinliers of the city 
gi )\ernnient. and the scIuhi] cnmniittee and the uratur of the 



Ilalk.s- and Tulks .Ihoiil llislonc A',m7.u(. I",:; 

(Ia\. 'riiat year, the Mr.itMi- wa- llu- I l.iii. >ralilr I'.ilwanl l".\- 
tTftt: tlu- .\la>nr \\a> Hun. Icrniuc \. T. Smith. The >>v- 
clic'Stra was in thr ^alk-ry in rear nf the elock. The exercise^ 
consisted ol" sin<;ini; liy tile hnys and ,L;irls. selectimis bv the 
orclic'Stra. an niiening- address by the nia\iir an<l an uratiun 
by the Ibm. [■'.dward Everett. .Xtlerwanl^ we tiled ])ast the 
niax'or on the platfnrni, whu ti >i ik us b\- the hand, yave ns a 
lileasant i^reetini;. and ])resented <-ach with a small bunch 
of fle)wers. and we then timk nur seats at tlie ban(|uet table, 
and with keen appetites we (bd full justice to the repast. In 
this pleasant and a.ijreeable wa\, did the -nod wlil cit\ e\- 
]iress its apprii\al of cmr cmKbicI, and the whole scene was 
inde]ilil\ im|ires^ed n|iiin < mr unnfries, 

baneml llall i- 74 feet .^ inches Imii^ ]i\ 75 ft. .^ in. wide. 
It has nil seats 1 in the main tlc.ir and (inl\ a few in the gal- 
lery. I'.aids 1)1 the platfiirin i-- a lar-e paintin- id b\- .^ci feet. 
In llealy. ■■Webster replying; t(i llaynes in the I'liited" States 
.Senate. |,inu,ar\ jdlh and _'i)th. iSv'. 

The speeeb de]i\ered ui I S ;;i . w.is \\'e]>ster's orcatest. I'.e- 
liiw the p;iiutin^ tliere stands .lut b' 'Id and ideal' in i^ilt k't- 
ters — his t;reat penii-atiiin. ■'l,ibert\ .and I 'innn. uuw .and fur- 
ever." In the li.alf centnr\ fiplIuwiuL; tlie han-iiii; ni the 
paintiiiiL;. lliese wurds ha\e been the ti'xt nf man\ eliic|nent 
.speeclies (Udi\ered in the ball. 1'he painter was I'. S. .\. 
Healy. wlm tdnk- se\i-u years t( 1 tinish the task tn his satis- 
faction. The paimini; is lO b\ ^i f<-et It cimtains the pm- 
traits of i.V senatnrs .ami nun 1 if distinctii m. 1'be scene is tlie 
nld Senate ( li.auiber. nnw Used ]i\ the I 'nited States Su- 
preme (nnrt. In the I'mvers.d l'".\hi] litii m, in 1S55, the 
liaintini..; w.as .iw.anled a (inld .\led;d. lie uffered the ])aiiitinL; 
ti) the b'eder.al ( ii i\-erument fur ^^o.ooo. .•nid it w;is tn lie 
Iuiiil;- in the ( )ld .^en.ate ( li.amber. Tlu' (iii\ernmeut beini;- 
mnvilliiiL; tn pa\ him tb.at sum, I'mstnu secma'd it fnr $411.- 
000.00, 

I here are mmiernus pnrtr.iits .if m;ui\ noted Americans, 
p.ainted b\ many .artists. The hall is -ranted fnr such meet- 
ings as the cit\ apprnxi-s, and, altbnuub im leut is ch;irL;ed, 
the e.xjjenses amnimtiiiL; tn .$_>( 1 ,1 il,i\ .md ."s_'^ .1 ni^ht. art- 
paid by thnse nsiui; the ball. \li,i\i- the m.iin li.all is the .\r- 
mnr\- nf the Ancient >S: llnunr.ible \rtiller\ ("nm|i,an\. 

I )p|)nsite the platform is a ( Inck which li;is marked tlu 
minutes of man\ ,in .able speech b\ noted nr.atnfs. It was 
presented tn the cit\ December I4tb. 1S5O. d'lie exercises in- 



io<> Il'alks and Tulles .Iboiil Historic Boston. 

cidt'iit to the presLiitatiuii tnuk place in the liall at 7.30 in the 
evening. A large audience, of which the majcir portion was 
composed of the young contributors, was present, and Mayor 
John P. Bigelow presided over the ceremonies. The formal 
speech which conveyed the timepiece to the city was made 
by Tosiah Ouincv. the secon<l of the name in local history, 
and Mayor Bigelow accepted the gift in l)elialf of the city. 
CiUTent account states that the names of each one of the 
contributors, together with the names of their respective pa- 
rents, were all inclosed in a tin box which w^as deposited 
within the clock. T\u> box. it was further stated, was to be 
opened 100 years fnun the date i if the gift. Alderman Grant 
read the following verses by ( ienrge \V. Bungay. Mr. Grant 
said he did not writi' pnetrx. as lie knew he could have fur- 
nished a 1 letter jirc iductinn. 



TICKING.S FROM THE CLOCK. 

"Although my hands arc on my face. 

And all the time I go .m tick, 
There's nothing wicked in m\' case, 

I never did a shalib}- trick. 

A man wdiuid u|i is sure to stop, 

I'.ut wiml me up and I will go, 
But if >iiu let me takt' a dro]3, 

M\ hcmest face will fib 1 know. 

When Spontcrs on the |ilatfonn sland, 

.\nil kill tod many of m\- hours. 
I'll gentK nio\(.' in\ wai'iiing hands 

And strike from tlieni their liorrowed flowers. 



The eagle which is seen o\-rr the clock once adorned the 
walls of the local L'nited ."states I'.ank. which was located at 
No. 3-' State .Street. W lun the bank was abolished in the 
time of Andrew Tackson thi> jiarlicuk-ir "national liird" also 
found its way to the historic interior of k'.'iueuil Hall. The 
old (jrasshopper W'e.atlur \ ane. which swiids abiive the 
cupola of Faneuil Hall, has had i|uite a Aaried history. It 
w;is made ami jmt in place .\'o\ ember 1. 174J b\- .Sheni 
I'.rown. a wclkknown liras> woiker in those (la\s. It was 



IValks mid Talks About Historic Boston. I'v 

thiiiwii uff 1)\ an (.-artlKinakr wliicli toiik |)lace November 
i()tli. 1755- It was aj^aiii tlin'wn down at a fire January 
i^th, ijfii, and rejilaced June _'Stli, 1763. having been re- 
paired bv a lottery fund. After baxino- swung- there until 
1862, nearly 100 }ears. it was taken down, repaired and re- 
placed. It has been a weather index to many generations of 




The FaiK ml llmiH . Tirmniil Sin, I, lipiinsilr l\ii,ii\ Cliiiprl lliiriiiini Cniinid 



Bostonians. .\la\ it lon^; swini; tbeie in sunshine and in 
storm — a memento of the "^ood old (olony days." 

We cannot clo.se this article mijre appropriatel\' than in the 
words of I^afayette, which wei'e uttered on his visit in 1823 
to Boston and to l''ancuil Hall. 

"The City of I'.oslon, the fradle of Liberty; ma\- l-'aneuil 
Hall ever stand a monument to leach tlu- woiid that resist- 
ance to oppressicin i, a duty, ami will, nudci- true republican 
institutions becunie ,1 bKs-,inL;." 



i"!^ H'alks and I oiks .Ihmit Historic Boston. 

Till-; siiiKLi-:v i-.rsTis iiorsi'. 

I'his famous Coltmial .Mansidii i> now Xo. i,[ Shirlf\- Street 
anil not tar truni the llui^h ()"r>rien Selmi iIIk luse, Diullev 
Street. It is the 'inly Colonial l'",xeentive Mansion now in 
existcnee. In it> ilay it was the most palatial house in Rox- 
bury. It \\as hnili hy Governor Shirlev and here he, and 
(iiivernor luistis. who oeetipied it later, ever dispensed a 
niDsi j;\'nerous hos])itality. William Shirley was the son of 
a 1.1 null m merchant and a tjradnate of Camliridse University, 
]-"ni;land. His supcrinr talents and address, attracted great 
niiticc in Mni^land, and thmui^h the inducer nf ."^ir Robert 




■rhr Slilrlrii Kii.tlis Ihiiisr. Ho.rhiir,/ 



^\'alpole. and of the 1 )uke of .\ewcastle. he secured the jmsi- 
tiim nf ( iovernor of Massachusetts Bay Ccilnny. and ser\ed 
in that capacity from 1741 to 173S, In 1754. when Frank- 
lin was in Boston, he had se\eral inter\iews with (jov- 
enmr .Shirley, whu cdmnnmicated in him the '■jirofoumi 
secret." the "i;'rand desii^n" nf taxing the C'nlnnics b\ act nf 
I'arliament. Shirley was a staunch Loyalist, and in I7,S'' 
advised the Ministry tn ini[)ose a "Stamp Act in America." 
.\lter the defeat nf ( ieneral Braddnck b\ the l-'rench and 
lndian> in 173*1. at the battle nf .\b mnnsahela. Washin^tnn. 
then _'4 yi-;irs nf av;e. was a i^ue^t .at this mansinn. lie came 



Jl'nlks mid talks .Uunit Historic Kastoii. i^xj 

as the iR-artT of sad iu'\\>. tn iiif<inn tlif ( inxi-niur df the 
death of his son, wlio was slain in the liattlc. Washington 
was much noticed and kindl\' received l)y the (jovernor. with 
whom he remained ten days, mixing constantl\- in societw 
visiting Castle William and other objects wurtln of notice 
in the vicinity, little dicaming that it woidd some (la\- become 
the theatre of his first great niilitarv achievement. In writing 
to his friend, h'airfax. Washington says: "1 have had the 
honor of being introdnced to several ( iovernors, especially 
Mr. Shirley, whose character and appearance have perfectly 
charmed me. His every word and action discover in him the 
gentleman and the politician." In 175(1, grave cllarge^ were 
preferred against the (Jovernor, wdiile holding i-ommand as 
a Major General. He was trunnphantix' vindicated .and in 
1758 was appointed Guvernor of the I'.ahama Islands. In 
I76() he returned to l')OSt<in from the I'.ahama Islands, and 
for the remainder of his life resided in his former mansion in 
Roxbury. He died in 1771. a pimr man, and was interred in 
the King's Cha])el Burying (irimnd. nf wliicli edifice he had 
laid the foundation stone. 

I'rancis Drake, the histnrian. tlni> describes this fine cild 
mansion: "( )n .'^hirle\ .Street, smne J5 ruds m irtli of l'".ustis 
."Street, is the house l)tiilt b}- ( ioveriKir Shirley, alxiut 17.^0. 
Its oaken frame, and other materials, even the brick', which 
were of three difTerent sizes, were said to have been 1>niught 
from England at .great ex])ense. The (i(i\crn(ir called it 
■Shirle\' Place." It was a large. s(|nare. t\\ o-^ti )i-\ . hi])-rii()f 
structure, with a stone b:isemfnt. ha\-ing a piazza at e.ich 
end, and was surmounte<l In- an iibsr\atiiry inclosed with a 
railing. It had a doidile front, each front being approached 
by a flight rif stone step^. having an iron railing of an anticpie 
pattern. As ycju enter the iioi-tli front, yon find Nonrsidf in 
a spacious hall of graml ]iro])i irtion. I'o tlie right .a 1>road 
staircase leads to a l)alcoiiy rxteiiding around to the left, 
where two dcjors o])en into a guest ch.amber. in winch W'asli- 
ington. I'ranklin. Lafayette. Daniel Webster and nian\ oilier 
celebratrd men lia\e. from tinu' to time, been accomniod.aliil. 
I'roin this balcoin the nnisicians entertained the conipam 
seated at the table in the hall. To the right .ind left of 
the hall are doors leading into the reception room, jiarlor. 
etc. Tlie small west room, which was Madame ITtstis' 
room, when < iovernor luistis took jiossession of the house, 
contained a secretarv which was the ijift of Dr. Joseph 



HO Walks and 'J'alks About Historic Boston. 

Warren, when her liushand studied medicine with him. On 
tlte Dudley Street front is a small hall paved with marlDle. 
L'pon great occasions, the two halls were thrown into one. 
hy opening folding doors between." The fireplaces were 
iirnameiited with Dutch tiles, hut when the liouse was sold 
in 1867, it was ci)ni|iletely denuded (if these, liy those modern 
(ioths and \'andals, curinsity ami relic hunters. S]ieaking 
ni lliis hue UKtnsidii, l.afa\ette wmte t" .a friend: "( )ne 







(II, I siiih Hulls, \ ls:;ii 

ciiuld drive a coach and -ix up its hospita1)le stairs." 'I'he 
hiiu>e was made a liarrack fur our soldiers in 1775 and greatly 
uijured thereh\. Coldnel Asa Whitcomb's regiment marched 
friiiii there to Dorchester 1 lei,ghts. INlarch 4, 1776. The 
house passed through \arious hands before it became the 
]iropert\ of another chief executive of the Commonwealth, 
< ioxernor William Eustis. who lived in it during his term of 
office. ( iovernor Eustis was a graduate of Harvard C'olle.ge 
and studied medicine un<ler Dr. Joseph Warren. lie was 
professionally engaged with the patriots at the liattle of 
Lexington, and served as surgeon throughout the Revolu- 
tionarv W^ar. In 1708 he was elected to the Massachusetts 
Legislature, and thenceforth devoted himself to politics. He 
jiec-inic a nienil>er of ( ongress, Secretar\- of War, Minister 



ll'alhs ami 'J\illcs .Iboitt Historic Boston. hi 

to Holland and (lovirnur of .Massaclmsrtts from iSj:; to 
1825. (lying- while in office, at the age of 71. One of his 
distinguished \isitors at this old mansion, was General 
Lafayette, in 1X24. who w.is then in America as the guest <if 
the nation. Tlu-} were old conip.inions in tin- army, and the 
occasion was one of great jo\ ;inil (■ntluisi;isui to these old 
veterans. The i iovernor ga\e a grand i)anquet in honor of 
Lafayette. There were between 30 and 40 guests, the Gov- 
ernor taking his position at the head of the tal.)le, with 
General Lafayette on his right and General Dearborn on his 
left. Ex-Governor iirooks, second on his right and the 
Lieutenant Governor and the Council, the Military Stafi: 
and other guests on either side. 

After Governor Eustis's death, his wife, a most elegant 
and accomplished woman, who survived hiiu many years, 
would suffer none of his things to be moved from their 
accustomed places. 1 lis cane and tobacco box occupied their 
usual corner of the hall, just as they were wont to do fort\ 
years before, and as though the arrival of the master of tlie 
house was momentarily expected. In 1867, soon after the 
death of Mrs. F^ustis. the fammis did estate w.hs cut up into 
house lots .-ind the old mansion w.as mo\e(I 20 or 30 feel 
from its original foundations. The Shirle\ -ITistis lumse .-ind 
grounds now include 12,000 square feet of land. 



ll',ilks and Talks .lluntl llistnrh- n,>stoiL m.^ 

This l'aniiiii> cjld hiiildiii- sIcmkI iicarlx (jpimsitr the I )1(1 
Sdulli Clnircli. In its day it was the most eletvant and rnst 
ly hinise erected in IJoston since the fmniding- of the town 
l)y John W'inthriip. It was bnilt by I'eter Sargeant in lOji) 
for liis residence. lie came from London and became a 
very wealthy man. .\fter his death it was occujiied In his 
widciw nntil 1715. The ne.xl \ear the I'rinincial Leijisla- 
tlire voted to purchase the mansicm and the heirs of .\lr. 
Sartjent i)assed the deecl tu tlu' Treasurer of the Province, 
the .Treasurer of the C'oimt\ of Suffolk and the Treasurer of 
the Town of lloston- .\t this time it was a most majjnifi- 
cent building;. Xo ])ams or expense was spared to make 
it not only ele.c;ant InU spacious and convenient. 

It stood somewhat back on its ample lot, and ha<l the 
most pleasant and agreeable surroimdings of any house in 
the town. This stateK- biiiklinL; fronted on that part' of 
Washington Street (foinierK known as .Marlborough Street! 
opjiosite the head of Milk Street, with a handsome lawn in 
front, ornamented with lars^e trees which shaded the house 
and added much to its imiiosino- ai>]iearance. The house was 
Imilt of brick, three stories in lu-ioht. with a hi.ijh roof and 
loft\ cupola, the whole lieini; sm-mounteil b\ the figure of 
an Indian t hief, with a drawn bow .and arrow, the han.h- 
work of I )eacon Shem Urowne of the Xorth h'.nd. who made 
the L;i-asslii ipjier vane for the cupola of l'\'iut'nil 1 tail. The 
house was approached o\er a stone |>;i\emenl and ,1 lu<.,'-h 
flitiht of massive stone steps and through a magnificent 
door\va\' which would coniparc fa\<irabl\ with those ol the 
palaces of luirope. I'roui the l)alcon\ over the generous 
entrance, the \iceroys of the rrcwince were accustomeil to 
harangue the i)iople or read ]iroclam;itions. I)urin<;- the 
time of the Provincial ( lo\ernment, .after its ])urch;ise. it 
was used b\ the ( loNcrnois. but after the expulsion of the 
British froiu I'.oston in I77'i. it w.as converted into accom- 
modations for otticers in the transaction of public business. 
Much has been written of the da\s when it was the resi- 
dence of the Ko\al (icncrnors. It was the social centre 
of the town, where routs and balls were held, where often 
!,;athered .i;a\' cavaliers in satin and \flvet, and fair women 
res|ilendent in brocade and damask. 1 ine writer says: "The 
wise, the witt\-. L;av and learned, the Ie;i<lers in authority 
in ihouoht. and in fashion, the tlower of tlie old Provincial 
life, trouped in full tide throuL;li the waiuscotted ;mil tapes- 



114 Walks ami 'JCIhs About Historic Boston. 

tried rooms, and up the jjrand old winding staircase, with 
its carved bahistrade and square landing- places, to do honor 
to the hospitality nf the martial Shute, the courtly Burnet, 
the gallant Pownal nr the haughty Bernard \\'hen Pownal 
arrived in 1757, as l\(i\al (iovcriKir of the Province, opposi- 
tion to the British ("rciwn had ili\ided the citizens into rival 
factions and the Inyalists lluckeil to the Province House, 
where the\- held a miniature I'ourt"' 

The same writer whom we have already quoted says : 
"The supporters of the (Governor in gold lace, scarlet coats 
and powdered wigs loitered on the level lawn in front of 
the Governor's residence and smiled contemptuously on the 
soberly clail i>atriots. whu muttered maledictions U]30n 
Pownal and lavish expenditures as thev passed by." 

I'lernnrd succeeded Pownal and had a stormy administra- 
tiim i:if nine years, for thev were the days of the "^^'rits of 
Assistance." the "Stamp Act" and tlie introduction of Brit- 
ish redcoats to overawe the Colonists. 

In 1775, Sir William ilnwe occupied the Pnivince House, 
and once again it was the scene of social splendor. .Minuets 
were danced there during the winter of 1775-177^1, and many 
fair Tory maidens of Boston felt highly honored to l)e part- 
ners of Earl Perc}', General Burgovne, Sir PIenr\' Clinton 
and the noble hnst, ."^ir William H^we. The young bloods 
made a brilliant a])pearance with their white, blue and scar- 
let coats, lavishlv trimmed with gold and silver lace, em- 
broidered waistcoats, with gold kneebands, white silk stock- 
ings and high heeled shoes with great gold Inickles. 

Sir William Hnwe ga\e a grand Ijall .a few weeks liefore 
he and his arm\- saile(l away fmiu I'luston. It ^vas a mas- 
querade ball anil was attended li\- utticers of the British army 
and the leading l\ii\alists nf Hiistun. There was ilistress in 
Boston amiing tiie \nHiv at this time <.iwiiig t(i tlie siege, and 
a general gliMini was (i\cr tlie tnwii. fur the lines uf Wash- 
ington were tigiitl\ drawn. Sir William llnwe thought he 
could hide this couilition of things In- a grand festivity. 
Hawthorne in his "Tales ,if the l'n:ivince House" gives us 
(juite a full descriptiou of this affair. The Aniericans were 
to be held up to ridicule 1)\' (.me group, who were dressed 
up in old regimental costumes, which looked as if they 
might have been worn in the old wars, they were so weather 
Worn and shabby. The .\merican Generals, George Wash- 
ington, Gates. Lee, Putnam .and other officers of the iiatriot 



Walks and Talks .Iboiit llistoric Boston. n^ 

army, were aliMudl) represented. As one said, "tlie\ liKiked 
more like seaieeri iw s tlian an_\ tiling else." .\n interview be- 
tween these warriors and the elegantly attired and ponipdus 
E'.ritish commander caused great 'merriment- While this 
burlesque was in progress a parade of citizens passed bv 
the house with mul'fled drums and wailing trumpets, which 
so annexed Sir William Howe that he went out and ordered 
it to disperse. Another feature of this last British ball in 
Boston was thi' representation of tlie I'uritan Governors, 
Winthrop, Endicott. \"ane. Uudle_\-. lla\nes, iJellingham and 
Leverett. coming ilown the grand staircase. Some thought 
it was a plot, but it was only a part of a very stupid play. 
Other Governors also apjiearcd and the later ultra Royal 
Governors, and last the figure of ( leiieral llowe. about ti> 
leave the Province. Howe, in a state nf great excitement, 
clenching his bands, stamping bis feet and cursing as he 
]3assed out. In less than one month from that time be 
reallv ])asst'il out of that house. ne\'er to retmn. and, jtrob- 
ably in the same frame of mind as bad l)een (b-picted in 
caricature. When the ( io\-ernor left the liouse that morn- 
ing in March, the key of the house was gi\<-n to Estber 
J^udley, the housekeeper, who remained there several vears 
and faithful in her adhert'iice to the King. She always 
thought the British would return and reca])tiire the Colony, 
and it is said she often climbed to the cupola, searching for 
a British fleet coming up the harbor or for an army of Red- 
coats. But the people of the town felt diffcreuth- and their 
by-word was, "Wlu-ii the golden Indian on the Province 
House shall sboot his art-ow . then bjok for tlie Royal Gov- 
ernor again." Tb.-it Indian figure which stood on the cu- 
]>ola is now in the possession of the Mass.-icbusetts I lis- 
torical .'society. 

When the British troops and their Tory supporters sailed 
away from Boston the great social glorv of the Old Prov- 
ince House forever departed. The .State of Massachusetts 
used the building until the completion of the new State 
House on Beacon Hill. 

Tn T796, the Province House was sold to hibn Peck, but 
the bargain fell through on account of the inabilit}- of the 
purchaser to make payments and in 171)11 the whole estate 
was reconveyed to the State and subsequently was granted 
by the .State tn the Afassachusetts General Hospital, whose 
Trustees, in 1817. leased it to David Greenongh. I",s(|.. for 



111. n\ilks ami I'dlks .Ihniil llistnric Boston. 

tlic u-ini lit ninctv-niiK' yt-ars. Sul)se(|iR'iit tn tlii^ la^t 
ilalc lliis aristocratic and splendid nld mansion was pnt to 
nearly all sorts of purposes. Its statcl\- trees \\'ere cut 
down soon after the propert\ was leased to Mr. ( ireenoutjli. 
'["hen a row of Ijrick houses and stores was built upon the 
line of the street, excludintj the house from view until ap- 
proached throu£^h a narrow archwav leadin.t;' to the front 
door, and to the houses which had lieen erected in the rear 
of the Instate. 

In 1S51 the whole liuildiuL;- was chansjed in a])pearance: 
the interior ha\inL; lieen renioilelled for the ])urp'osc ot" 
accommodating- a companv of \ocalists, and it was at this 
time that the <nitside was co\ered with a coat of \ ellow 
mastice. .-Kt half-past h\e o'clock one I »ctober mornin.sa:. 
tile l'ro\ince Ihuise was desti-oyed liy fire, leaving only the 
w;ills stamlint;. A ]iart of the old wall forms one side of 
the ]>resent I )l(l .^outh Theatre l',uildin.t;\ The fire, which 
orii.;inated in the upper' stor\ , was suppose<l to lie the work 
of an incendiary. k'or some years prior to its destruction 
it was used as a place of entertainment. 

There ma\ lie some old liostonians livint^- to(la\ who will 
rcmenilier the old Minstrel ('om|iany, known as "M<irris 
l'.r<ithers 1 'ell and Trowliridi^c.'" and the crowded audiences 
in the little hall of the ( )ld Province House. l'".xtensive ami 
complete repairs were made and the I'.oston Ta\ern is on 
the old site. Province Street and I. ourt from School Street 
to I'.ronifielcl Street were orii;inall\ axenucs leading,' to the 
staliles of the ( )ld Province I loUse. 



llalks uikI l\ilL-s About l/isloric Boston. 



TFIl". OI.l) 1-F..\T11I'R S'I'ORI'. 

Til mam old citizen^ ni l',..stiiii, tlii> nld liuiMini;, Inull in 

KiiSc). was a familiar laiulmark. It st 1 in Huck S<|narc. 

(in tin- Ci>iiUT I if X'liitli Slit-rl and MarkrI Si|uarr, and was 
Imilt 1i\ Tlidmas Stanliur\ ti i r<,']ilacc a Iniililin^ ilrstniM'd 
li\ firr in iii-(), l-.ir tIi''M' (kix--. that tliT wa-- a^ L;'rcat a~ 
that (if i.S-j. Ihc tire startid (in Xdrth Sli-c(.-t and rai^rd 




/;,. /.„//,,, 



f(ir !_' li.inr-, and kwcllrd cvcin hinhhnL; fnmi I '.lack-^t ( mi- 
Strci.-t t(i I.ihcvtN S(|nar.- and causrd a !(■•-■- 'if S i .( « « i.( » « i. 

1'hi> (lid Innldinj;. Iiccansi' i if it- nianx ;;alil(;s and tin/ ])r(i- 
jt-ctmiL; n|i|icr st(iri(_'s and it- ahndst Ifianmdar -hain-. Cdn- 
fiirmiiiL; U> the li it (if land ( m w hicli it -todd wa- ..ftcn called 
the ■■(ncked Hat." Smipsun I'.nither- did an e\tcnsi\e 
Im-ines- in featluT- there, hence the name > if "I'eatlier 
St(ire.'" The did Innldniij was dem(ili-he(l in iSdo. 



iif< Walks and I'alks .Ihout I fistoric Boston. 

"From Historic I'rinls — publisiu-d by the State Street 
'J'rust Company.'" 

Howdoin Square was at one time a very aristocratic sec- 
tion of tlie city. The cut represents the Bulfinch House, and 
dales 1)ack U) 1715. it \va^ iutilt 1)y Dr. Thomas Ilulfincli. 
on hmd !4i\en ti 1 him li\ hi^ wife's father, hihn Ci>Ieman. a 




H.illnirh II,. 



l:..,r.l..,„ S.,, 



w cU-kniiw n and \\ealtli\ l'in>l'iii AU-rchanl. 1 'liarles Ihil- 
finch, the arcliitect of the State ihiu^e .'ind man\ .ither nota- 
ble bnildinL;"-- in the tnwai, \\a^ a L;i'anilsi in < ,f | )r. lUiltinch 
and \\a^ linni in this hnnse in \~('J!,. \ i^ranite structiu'e. 
Isnnwn .as tlie ('Hihd^e I'.uildinL;, nn\\ iicrn|iies the site of 
the .>ld h<.use. 



JJ'allcs ,111, 1 'l,ilL-s .lh,'iit llistunc nosloii. ' "> 

( )ii a lii'dii/c lalilcl nil the I'l'imt ,,\ a brown ^tunc luiild- 
iili;' nil I'.eacnii Strrot. near (lie StaU- llniisc. may ])v I'cail 
tlu' I'lilli iwiiii^ w circK ; 

IJuiT >l(iii(l llii- n.'M(lfiK\- of Jolin llancock 

A proniiiu-nt ami palriotii- iiR-itliaiit <>\ llnstou 

Tlir lir>t >ii;iUT <il I he 

I )ctlaraliiai nl" I iitlc|ii.-iulciicc 

and l'ir-,t < io\xTnor of .MassachuscUs 

iiii(li,T the State Constitution 




./../,„ Il„„,,„k Ih 



rinv s|ilen<liil nld niaii^inii, whieh many of the ohk-r 
I Ic istonians will rememlier. was a rare ^])eennen of colonial 
arehitecture. and well fitted (jf itself, and hy its situation, 
tn he the official dwelliiiL; of tlie ( Ion ernMr> of this ( 'nni- 
nionwealtli. as was prcjposed a few \ears previous to its 
demolition. Tp to the middle of the last century, it stood 
practically as loft 1)\' Hancock, .and many of the furnisliin^s 
and a|)])ointnients were . if his time. The Imuse was built 
ill \j},j by Thomas Hancock, a wealthy I'.oston bofikscller. 



i-'o ll'iilks and Talks .Ihaiil Historic Boston. 

and occiiijifd 1>\ liini until lii-~ dralli in 17(14. It \\a> con- 
sidered the tinot lnn'se nf tin- idlcjnial pcriiMl in l'>ii>tiin. 
It was Imilt uf stcjne, and thr md^inal indenture "ur speci- 
fication fc ir the \\i)il<. i> stiH in existence. 

Hanciick im|nirted l'r(.ni Lnndcin, tlie window s^lass and 
wall ])a|ier for his new Imuse, anil tree^ and shrid)S tor his 
new Ljardens which w oidd stirround the ln.iuse. All the 
seetl.s that were pnrcha-~ed. howexei', sa\e the asjiarrow 
grass, refused to tlinxe in .\nierica. The Hancock Mouse 
was located, approximateK , in the centre of a square, 
hounded li\ Heacon Street in frcjut. Heme Street in the 
re.ir, lo\- Street on the ri^ht. .and I'mwdoin Street on the 







./•:ln, ll,l,l,„cl; 



Ih.lnlll,/ (}HU,. 



Jl.ancock's cows nnce hrows^d ha]ipil\. where no\\ ri^Ls 
the State Mouse, with Us •^luierin- d..ine. "When Tlii'inas 
ll.anci'ck conceueil the nlea of hudclin^ a Imme toi- Inniself 
n; the ■iUt-kirt- of the town, the L^ond |ieopU- of Salem 
niar\eled at the m;in's desire to L;et si 1 far out in the fields. " 
The house owerlooked the L'ouiniou. "the cow p.isture." 
The main part of the hou-~e had a frontage of 5S feet, 
lliere was an east wnnj, presum.ahK ol woinl, which w:is 
u-ed Iw lohu ll.ancock as .a liall roi.ni. This wini; w.as 



lI'alL-s Olid TiilL-s .iboul llis/mic Hosloii. i-'i 

rcinii\f(i to \lk-n Street in iSiX. The |iriiui|i;il features 
ul" tlie facade, were llie lirciail fnjnt il.u.r at tlie head of a 
flight of steiiie --teps. iL;arni>lie(l with |)illar>. and an oiMia- 
niental door liead. anil the uruanu-ntal central w inddw over 



The hiidi -andirel Kiof with dormer windows >ho\sed a 
car\ed halcony railinj;. enelosiuL; its n|>|ier portion. The 
interior conipiised a noi)ly paneled hall. li;i\in!.; a broad 
staircase, with carved and twisted halusters. which divided 
the house in the middle, and extended thioni^h on lioth 
stories, from front to rear. 

( )n the landing;-. i)art wax u|i the st.iircase, was a circular 
headed window looking; ont ujion the garden, with a hroad 
and capacious window seat. ( )n the entrance floor at the 
riiiht id' the hall. \\;is the .i.;reat dinin;;- room, sixteen li\ 
tw ent\-l"i\e fet't. claliorately paneled from lloor to ceiliiiL;. 
I'ntil the widening; of lieacoii Street, the house stood well 
hack from the street, on ground ele\;ited ,ilio\e it. At that 
time the mansion h.id two laiL;e win;.^s, the one on ihe cast. 
containiuL;. as we have alreadv said, a larL;e and sp.icious 
hall room. 

The west w ini; was appn i])riated to the kitchen .ind other 
domestic pur]ioses. Heyond the west wini.; was the coach 
house and the stahles. The gardens .md fruit tree inirs- 
eries were still fmther in the rear, extendini,; up the side 
of the then existing; I'.eacon Mill, now covered hv the .annex 
to the State Mouse. John ll.ancock seems to have been a 
yieat favorite with his wealthy uncle, who bequeathed to 
him the handsoiiie sum of tiftv thiuisand jionnds sterlin.t;, 
and upon the death of l.ydi.i llancock. the widow of 
Thom.is. this elcL;ant and st.ately mansion lieciinc the 
])rii]icrtv of lohn 1 laiicock, 

Mancock w.is a most active and ]irominent tiL;ure in the 
Rev oliitiiiuarv period ,and notwithstanding; his -reat wealth 
he threw hmiself heart and soul into th.it L;re.it stru.S^'i^le 
for freedom, and in those il.ivs this old mansion witnessed 
nianv scenes of turmoil and festivity. r)nrinL; the occuiKi- 
tion of I'.ostou by the I'.ritish in 1773-1770. some of the 
llritish soldiers considered the pro]ierty of so f.inious a 
reliel. as common spoil, .-ind they broke into the house and 
stole luanv .articles of v.aluc. It shouU! be said to the credit 
of 1 ieuer.il I iaL;c, tlu' I'.ritish ( omni.iuder, lh,at as soon as 
he heard of this vv.antou .act he sent a guard to jirotect the 



1-'-' Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

Iinipcrty and picxciu hirlluT (K'preilaticjns. It was welt 
kiinwii tliat at this tmic tlurr was iim luvc los^t lictwceii 
'-•ii'^K and Hancock. It i> pcissihle that when General Gage 
first came to the I'mvince he had l)een entertained by Han- 
cock in this almost royal niansi(jn. If so, he mtist have 
retained a pleasant and ino-,1 ai^rceahle memory of jNIadame 
Dorothy Ouincy Hancock, the liri^^ht and charming host- 
ess. The honse was occupied during the greater part of 
the siege of I'.oston l>y Lord I'crcy of the British Regulars, 
(jeneral Cliuton aKo occupied the house a portion of the 
time during tlu sie-c and after the battle of Bunker Hill 
it was used as a hospital for the redcoats wounded in that 
fight. When the si.-gc was raised and Hancock returned 
to his home he was still the lavish and generous entertainer 
and nearly all of the great men of that dav sat ar(iund his 
bt.iard and [lartook of liis h(lspitalit^^ 

Count D'Estaing, the I'rencli Xa\al Commander, and his 
ofiicers, made a call upon the Hancocks, which was in the 
natiu'c of a "siu'])rise party," but 1 )orotln- <J- ^'^''S equal to 
the occasion. There is no doubt but that "the new Han- 
cocks were a gay set and the\ ga\c recc|)tii;ins and balls 
without number U< tlic aristocr.acy of the town, and many 
;i noted Bostonian jiassril back .and forth thnjugh the door- 
way of this old anil stately mansi(in. Here the genial and 
noble Lafayette w.is eutert.iined. After the war when John 
Hancock became the Governor of the State, the official 
ceremonies at Tncle Tours I louse' were more numerous 
and courtly than anything of this kind since that time. 
Here ^^'ashing•ton. the first I'rt'sident of the L'nited States, 
paid that solemn "retm-n call' to the first Governor of 
Massacluisetts in 17S0." 

( )nc of the last and hardest fi-hts which Hanc(X-k made 
as ('loxcrnor was f(ir state so\ereignlv. In Se|)tember, 
170,^ only a month before he died, he said to the Legisla- 
ture, "1 ha\e in this case done no more than my duty, as a 
ser\ant of the pieopje. I ue\er did and I never \\ill ilecei\-e 
tluin while I have life ancl strength in their service." 

Three weeks Later the cil\' was shocked by the news that 
"Go\ei"nor Hancock is de.acl." .\ great milit.ary j^arade th.it 
was in |)reparaticin op. the ('onimon imnie(liately broke up. 
His remains laid in state for one week in the hall of his 
mansion iju Be.acou .Street. Thousands of people, rich and 
])oor, some from a long dist.mce. g;ized upon the face oL 



ir.ilks iiinl 'J\ilL's .Iboiil Historic B,>sto„. i-M 

tliu patriot wild tuui^ht ^u \aliantl_v I'ur their riglu>, auil 
braved the wrath of an angrN- King and I'arHamcnt, knuw- 
ing- that if the cause of Liberty failed in America, he and 
his compatriot, Samuel Adams, would meet the docni »f 
traitors. His funeral took place October 14, 1793, and was 
a most imposing- one. being a mile and a half long, wiili a 
large military escort. The procession starting from the 
Hancock House on Beacon Street, crossed the Common to 
Boylston Street, down rioyl?ti;>n Street to the Liberty Pole, 
on the corner of \\'a>hiiigton and Ls.sex Streets, thence to 
the ( )ld ."^tate House around which they passed into Court 
Street, into Tremont Street tu the Granary Burving 
Cround. As the precession mo\ed from Court Street to 
the Hurying Ground, minute guns continued tiring. When 
John Hancock was laid to rest the military fired three vol- 
ley's over his grave. 

Samuel Adams succeeiled John Hancock as Go\-ernor of 
the Commonwealth and at the o]icning of the General 
Court in January said: "It haxing pleased the Supreme 
Being since your last meeting, in Mis holv Providence to 
remove from this transitory life, nur late excellent Gov- 
ernor Hancock, the multitude of his surviving fellow citi- 
zens, who ha\ f often L;iven strong testimonials of their 
approbati(.n of his important services, while the}- drop a 
tear, ma\- certainly jn-oht ]>v the reflection of his \ irtues 
and patriotic example." 

For over sixty \ears after the I'leath .jf Hancock it 
was (jne of the finest arid best ])reserved relics of Re\-olu- 
tionary times to be found in I'.oston or elsew-here. and 
viewed with great interest by the thousands w-ho annually 
made pilgriniages to this historic town. In 1X50 a measure 
was reported to the I^egislaturc by an inthunti:il commit- 
tee, proposing- the purchase of the house by ihe state, for 
the Governor's house, but the |iroject failed. \1>out that 
time there was a scheme to remove and re-erect the liousc 
in another location, but that project also failed. There 
was great regret among all classes of citizens at tlie de- 
struction of this famous house. Plad some of them shown 
a little more zeal and earnestness it niiglit have been staiid- 
ing- today. "The old material w-as sold tC) relic hunters and 
others of a more pr;ictical turn n\ nu'nd. for whatever price 
could be obtained for it. Among flic ])nrchasers was the 
late ]\losi.-s Kimball, who secured ;inioiip- other som-enirs. 



Walks .111,1 'folks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 



thf I'rLint duor nf tlu- ■ 'Id niaiisicin. pieces of the ornamental 
balustrade, which vurnnnKh-d a little portico above tile door, 
and some lantern liolder^. ^'ear> later, these mementoes 
came into the ])osse^--ion i if the I'.ostonian Society. I'he iloi.r 
is a niassi\e affair nf its kind. 1>nilt of hard wood and 
stronL;l\- panelled t>\- ,i wurknian wlm knew hi^ craft well. 
The library lock on the in^-ide indicates lh.it ( io\ernor 
llancc'ck. a> well a-- his uncle I'lmmas Hancock, who built 
the hiiuse. were nmre i 'r le^s ap])rehensive of intruders at 
a time when such xi^itnrs would not be welcome."' This 
famous door no longer swin^^s in it^ hnnnred place Init rc- 
p(i>es (|uietl\- in the basement i if the t )ld .^tate House. 



irijf ^tiimp 9rt, 171X1=1700 

This "Stamp Act" t(i r;n--c si\t\ thoiisaml pound-- wa^ llir 
prcliidc to the AiiK-rican l\c\nhiti< 'ii. whifh cost I'.nulanil one 
ltini(h-c(l milhon pounds and the loss of her American Col- 
onies. When \ouni; ( icors;e the Third ascended the luii^lish 
throne in ijim, William I'itt, then at the head of the Miii- 
istr\-, went to St. James I'alace and presented a sketch of ati 
addrc'-s to lie made 1)\ the Monarch at a meetins;- of the Privy 
( 'ouncil. The nnni^ter was ])olitely informed that a siieech 
was alread\ prepaied. and that e\ery prelimiuar)- was ar- 
ranged. I'itt then percei\'eil what nian\ had alrcadv suspect- 
ed, that the h'arl i>\ I'.ute, an e--pecial favorite of the voun.u 
l\inL;'s mother, waN to lie the leading; ^pint of hi-- adnnni--tra- 
lion. The pride of the threat >tatesman was touched ami he 
left the royal ])reseiice with ekiilded lirow . 

I'lUte came to the I'.ntjlish ( onrt as a nee<l\' ad\entiu"er and 
was utterly lackinL; in the (|ualitics which make a ^tate^man. 
Init the \ounL; Kiu.u; chose him a-- his coun--ell(jr and L;uide, 
instead of the wi^e and --a^^actous I'itt. who li;id done ^o nincli 
for the .L;lor\ of h.nL;lani| durinj; the rei.i^n which had iu^t 
closed. Like Reholioam. ( leor.ye "forsook the counsel which 
the okl men gave him, and took counsel with the yoimi; men 
that were hrouL;ht uj) with him. tliat stood hefore him." It 
was the had coun-NcI of his advisers that leil Kiiijj (ieorge to 
]iursue the arliitrai'N course towards the American Colotlies 
and th.it tinalK' led to the <li'-memherment of the l!riti--h luii- 
jiire. and the independence of the XmericinN. The ]ieople at 
home and in the Colonies had a hij^h re,c,'ard for I'itt. and the 
Kiiii^ lost, at the very he.Si'innintj of his rei,L;n. much of their 
favor hy his ill advised course. Mute connselled the Kint; to 
hrintj- the American Colonies into ahsohite snbjection. hy force, 
if necessary, and alsG to change or abrogate their Charters. 
.Acting tnider P.ute's advice the King sent agents over the sea 
to travel in the Colonies, collect information ahout the char- 
acter and temper of the peo])le. and hring together other facts 
and conclusions that would enalile the ministrv to judge wh.it 
regulations and alterations might be safeK made. 'I'' se 

fj.-i 



i-'i' JJ'alks a/id Talks Aboul Historic Boston. 

agents pertVirniecl their work in a very superficial manner 
and their erroneous conclusions led to trouble. The Colonists 
penetrated through their thin disguise as travelers. They 
knew that a movement was on foot to annul the Royal Char- 
ters, and the determination of King George and his ministers 
to force upon tlieni an oilious svstem of taxation, ^^'rits of 







4 - 

r 






Tin Lilnrlii Ti 



assistance were granted to officers of customs, giving them 
pnwer to enter the stores and houses of the people in pursuit 
I'f their vocation. The Colonists rose en masse to resist this 
measure. The cherished theory of English liberties was that 
"I'lvery man's house was his castle."' which the meanest dep- 
uty, of a deputy's deputy, might not enter at will. ]\Iassachu- 
setls, and especially Bostnn. was looked upon by the King 
and his ministers as the head centre (.)f Sedition, so it was 
here that the infamous units were first issued. 

Their legalit\- was (|uesti(ine<l. and the matter brought be- 



JJ \ilks ,111,1 'l,ilL-s .11', nit Historic Ihistoii. i-V 

furc a Court liclil in the Old Town llall in Boston, in Feb- 
ruary, 1 761. The fiery James Otis denounced these W'rits as 
"the worst instruments of arbitrary power, the most destruc- 
tive of English liberty and the fundamental law.'' Referring; 
tn the arbitrary power of the writs, he said: "A man's house 
is his castle, and whilst he is quiet, he is as well guarded as a 
prince in his palace. This writ, if it should be declared legal, 
would totally annihilate this [irivilege. C'ustom I biuse oti^cer^ 
may enter our houses when they please ; we are commanded to 
permit this entry. Their menial servants may enter, may 
break locks, bars and everything in their way, and whether 
they bre;ik through malice, or revenge, no man, no Court mav 
in((uire." 

These powerful words of James C)tis stirred the hearts of 
the jieople throughout the jirovinces. The speech and the 
v\ent constitute the opening scene of resistance in America 
to liritish oppression. \\'hen the orator exclaimed, "To my 
d\ing day I will ojjposc with all the power and faculties God 
has given me all such instrimients of slavery on one hand and 
of villainv on the other as this writ of assistance." the inde- 
])endence of the Colonies was then proclaimed. Winn Otis 
left the Town Hall that day he was greeted with loud luizzas 
from the ]iopulace. who threw up their hats in token of theii' 
delight, and from the d.ay of that remarkable event, this un- 
flinching patriot, then thirty-six \ears of age, led the patriots 
in the ^Massachusetts .-\ssembl\-, and the famous Tory leader. 
Timothv Ruggles, remarked: "A faction will arise out of this 
th.at will shake the province to it-- foundation." 

(Governor T'eriirird of ?\f;issaclui>etts cautioned the new 
Tcgislature not to heed "declamatory leading to promote a 
suspicion of the ci\il rights of the ]ieople being in danger. 
Such harangues might well suit in the reign of Charles, the 
First, but in the time of the (Georges, they are gr((undless and 
unjust." .\t that \ery moment, this double dealing, perfidi- 
ous official, was secretly ])romoting the scheme of the Ton- 
don Board of Trade for taking away the Colonial Charters. 
Mr. Otis was not permitted to live to see the formal declara- 
tion of independence by the Continental Congress. FTis ca- 
reer was ended before the tempest of the Revolution burst 
upon the land, by a blow from a bludgeon, in the hands of a 
Custom 1 louse C")fficer whom he had ottended. The blow 
caused a concussion of the brain, which clouded his brilliant 
intellect for the remainder of his davs. From this time the 



i-'S Walks and Talks .Ihoiil Historic Bastoii. 

Colonic^ pn-pareil for tlic inipcndinj^- coiiHict with the British 
ministry, with faith in their uUiniate triumph Ijt'cause their 
catise was jii^t. In Aharch, ij'i^, I'arhanu-nt. Ijy a unanimous 
vote, decitled that the\ had a rij^ht tn tax America without 
re])resentation. The Massachusetts Asscm1)ly retorted by vot- 
ing;- that the impiwitidn of taxes and duties hy the Parliament 
nt ( ireat i'.ritain ujion a people who are not represented in 
the Ihiuse of lomnions is absolutely irreconcilable with their 
ri.i^hts. That nn man can justlx take the property of another 
without his ccjusent. This was the uni\-ersal sentiment 
throtii,;lii Jut the culimies. "If we are taxed \\;thout mir con- 
sent, if we are nut represi-nted in the liodv taxini^- us. and 
we must submit, then we are sjaxes.'" The Kim;, his Min- 
ister> and I'arliameut ha\ in:.; decided t<i tax .\merica. the 
Stamp .Act was td be the test. It ])r<)vided that every skin 
or piece (jf \-elhim, nr parchment, (ir sheet, i >r ]iiece of paper 
used for le^al |)urpo.s(.-s, such as bills, JMiuds, notes, lease.s. 
policie.s of insurance, marriage licenses, and a i^reat many- 
other documents, in order to be \alid, in courts of law. was 
to be stamped, ancl s(dd l)\ puldic officers. ap|)ointed fcjr the 
pur|iose at prices which le\ ie(l ,i stated tax on e\erv such 
document. The bill made olTeuces .against its provisions, 
cognizable in the C'onrts of Admiralty. To the odiousness 
of the tax itself was .addeil the proxisjon for its collection 
by arbitrary |)ower. under the ilecrees of I'.ritish judges. 
When the .^tani]) Act. fr,'inie(l to proper order li\ a Commis- 
sioner, came up for d.cbate. ( harles TownshiMid. the niiist 
eloipu-nt man in the llousc of ('omnious, in the absence cif 
I'itt. made a speech in defence of it. which was concluded 
in the follow iui;- words: "And now, those Americans, chd- 
dren planted b\' our care, nourished by otir indnlsJ^ence un- 
til thev ha\e l^towu to a degree of strength and opulence, 
and protected li\- our arms, will tluw grudge to contril.nite 
their mite to retriexe ns from the hea\ \ weight of that btir- 
den which we lie under'" ( olouel I'.arre. who had shared 
with Wdlfe the dangers and fatigues of tlu- campaign 
against (Juebec. and who, h.i\ ing li\ed in \nierica. knew 
the people well. instaniK sprang to his feet, anti with eyes 
flashing with indignation and with outstretched arm. deliv- 
ered an unpremeditated ])hillipic of extraordinar\ power, in 
which most wholesome truths were uttereil. lie exclaimed 
with scorn. "Tluw pl.iuted by \ our care I" \'o, your oppres- 
sion ]il;imed them in America! Tluw Hed from your 



Il'alks and / ailcs .Ihmit Uisloric Boston. i-''i 

t\ianny to ,i tlu-ii inu"ulti\atfd and inhuspitalik' counlry, 
\slu-iv tlii-y ^•x|lM^c,•(i tlu'insclves to almost all the hardships 
til which human nature is liable, and amon^- others to the 
cruellies of a sa\aL;e toe. the most subtle, and 1 will take 
it upon nie to say, the nvot formidable of an\- iicuiilc nn the 
face of God's earth ; yet. actuated by principles nf true Kng- 
lish liberty, they met all hardships with pleasure, compared 
u'ith those they suffered in their own coimtr\- from the 
hands of ih(i>e who >hould have been triends. They "nour- 
ished liy your indulijence." They grew up b\' your neglect 
of them ! As soon as you began to care for them, that care 
was exercised in sending persons to rule over them in one 
department and another, who were, perhaps, the deputy of 
deputies of some member of this House, sent to spy out 
their liberties, to misrepresent their actions, and prey upon 
them : men, whose behavior, on many occasions has caused 
the blood of those Sons of Liberty' to recoil within them; 
men, promoted to the highest seats of justice: some, who to 
my knowledge, were glad, l)y going to a foreign country, to 
escape being brought to justice in their own. They pro- 
tected by your arms.' They have nobly taken up arms in 
your defence, have exerted a valor amid their constant and 
laborious industry. f(jr the defence of ;i country, whose 
frontier was drenched in blood, whilst the interi(:>r j.iarts 
yieldeil all its little saxings tii your emoluments. However 
superior to me ui gcner;il knowledge and ex])erience. the 
respectable bod\' of this House ma\- be. T claim tri know 
more of America than most of you. lia\'ing seen and been 
conversant in that country. The ]>eople. I l)elieve. are as 
trulv loyal as any subject the king has. but a people jealous 
of their liberties, and 'vho will vindicate them if they should 
be violated." 

There was silence in the House of Commons as Colonel 
Barre sat down, and amazement depicted on the faces of 
the members, for several minutes after this bold and impas- 
sioned address. But in the opinion of those members the 
British Government was strong and the Colonies were weak. 
"Might made right," and the bill passed the House. Feb- 
ruary 2". 1763, by a vote of 250 yeas to 50 nays. There was 
pr;icticallv no opposition in the House of Lord^. that aris- 
tocratic body had no sympathy with the common peo|ile of 
the Arnerican Colonies. ( )n March 2^. the King signed the 
liill and it became a l;iw. A few day< afterwanls the mon- 



130 



Walks and Talks Ahaiit Historic Boston. 



arch was crazy. It was the tirsl uf four attacks uf the 
dreadful nialadv (.)f iiisanit\- which affected bini during his 
long life and finally de])ri\ed him of the power to rule. 
The night the act was parsed. Ilenjaniiti Franklin, who was 
in Ldudon. wrote ('harles Thi 'uipson, afterwards Secretary 
of the C'ontinental ('(ingress. "The sun nf liherty is set; the 
.Americans mu>t light the lamps of industry and economy." 
Idle news of the passage of the Act and Colonel ISarre's elo- 
<|uent defence nf the Americans, reached the Colonies at the 
same time. Ilarri.' was applauded and his address printed 
and wide!}- circulated. The Acl was exerywhere denounced 
by the people who ^atliered ui excited group- in all the 
cities and \-illai;es. The pu]]iit tliinidered condemnati' in in 
the name of a righlenus Cwd, the newpapeis teemed with 
sedition essa\'s. and the I'i'l.iuial Assemldie- rang with re- 
helliims utterances. The ."^t.imp Act was tn go into effect 
November l, \J<'},. The ]iatriMts ,,\ llostnn determined that 
the Stamp 1 )istriluUi .rs sliduld nut exercise the duties ,,\ 
their office, .\ndrew ()li\er. Secretar\ uf the !'ri.'\ince ol 
Massachusetts, was appointed "Stamp .Mastei" of Boston 
The Sons <>{ Liliert\ slmwed their resentment l>y hanging him 
in effigx- i:>n the Liberty Tree, which stood on what is now 
the corner of \\ ashington and h',ssex Streets. There a great 
multitude gathered in the early twili.ght. In their presence it 
was taken doxvn, laid i>u a bier, and borne by the populact- 
through the streets to the ( )ld St.ate House under the Coun- 
cil Chamber. The crowd shouted, "Death to the man who 
offers a iiiece (jf st.amped paper to sell." and rushing tow.irds 
r)|i\er's house, they there belu'aded the eftigx', ,ind doulit- 
less would ha\e ki'lled ( )li\er e.udd they ha\e found him, 
hut he made his escajie. lie believed his life was in danger 
and resigned his office the next morning. The cowardly 
Governor, F,ern:ird. after issuing a iirocl.amation for the dis- 
coverv and arrest of the rioters, lied to Castle William. 
Massachusetts iinite<l all the (olouies to send delegates to 
a convention to be held in Xew N'ork .and twenty-seven 
delegates nu't repres(-uting nine Ccjlouies. Timothy Kug- 
gles of I'.oston. ,a rank Tor\ , ]iresided oxer the Convention, 
;ind |ohn Cotton was appointed Secretarx'. That body con- 
tinued in session fourteen d,ix s and the whole stdijcct of 
the rights and vriexances of the Colonies was full}' dis- 
cussed. ]ohn Conger of New Yovk was deputied to xvrite 
a "neclaration of RiL;hts," Robert 1\. T.ix in'.^ston of New 



Walks ami 'J'alks .Ihoiit lllstunc Hns/oii. i.^i 

York, prepared :'.ie "I'etilicni to ilic Kin-." .md laiiicv ( )tis 
of Massachusetts wrote a ■■.Memorial to I'x.th IIoiinc.-^ <>i 
Parliament." 'rhe>e were ado|)ie(l and have ever Keen re- 
garded as able state pajiers. Thev end)odied the prinei])Ie> 
that governed the men of the ReMihuinn. that broke om ten 
years later. On .\ovember I, 1705. the "'.'^tanip Act"' became 
a law in America. Everyone saw that in the state of the 
pnblic mind ai that time, the enforcement was an impossi- 
bility, yet it \\;i'- in existence, fur ,as a law of the I'.ritish 
realm, no le^al instrnnient nf wriiini; was \Mlid. withdnt a 
stamp, but iin \ii\riiil)er t^t, there was no person com- 
missioned to sell a stamp, for all ap]ioinled had resigned. 
The Governors had taken an oath to see th.it the law was 
enforced, but wh.at could tlie\- do. the people were their 
masters. 

"The hrst of Xo\end)er was I'rid.iy. "It w.is black l''rida\ 
in America. The' morning' was usheicd in li\ the tolling of 
bells. Minute guns were fired as if a funeral procession was 
passing. Mags were hoisted at half mast, as if there had 
been a national ])erea\ etneut. There were or.itions and ser- 
mons ap[)ropriate to the occasion. The ]iress spoke out 
boldly. .\s none but stamped paper was legal and the peo- 
ple were determined not to use it, all business was sus- 
jH-nded. The courts were closed, marriages ceased, vessels 
lay idle in the harbor, social and commercial relations were 
]),iralyzed. l!ut the Americans held in their hands a power- 
ful retaliatory measure which they ilid not hesit.ite t(i use. 

The Commerce between iMigland and .\nierica h.ad be- 
come ver\ important, ^ouie X'ew ^'ol■k merchants pr( iposed 
to strike a deadly bhiw at that trade. The}' entered into an 
.agreement not to ini])ort from hjigl.md certain enumerated 
articles after the 1st of January next ensuing. The mer- 
■chants of I'.oston .and I'liiladelphia entered into ,a similar 
agreement, and retail merchants agreed not to Inn or sell 
goods imjiorted after Jauu.ary ist. In this wa\ haigiand 
was made to feel some of the miseries sin- had inllicted upon 
the Colonies. The ji.atriotic people Ci >-operatt'd with the 
merchants. 

l)omestic manufactures were couimenced in almost e\er\' 
familv. l'ort\ or tifty \oung ladies, calling themsebes 
'T)anghters of Liberty." nu-t .at the house of kev. I )r. More- 
head of I'.oston. with their spinning wlieels .and spun two 
Tiundred and thirty skeins of yarn in :i daw There wci a- up- 



i.u> Walks ami 'I'all:s About Historic Boston. 

wards of one hundred spinners in Dr. Alorehead's Society. 

"Within a month,"' wrote a gentleman from Newport, 
Rhode Island, some time afterwards, "four hundred and 
eighty-seven yards rif cldth and thirty-six pairs of stockings 
have lieen spun and knit in the family of James Nixon in 
this town." The wealthiest \"ied with the middling classes 
in eciin(.imy and wurc clothing of their own manufacture. 
That wool might not be scarce the use of sheep flesh for 
food was discouraged. In these ways was one great source 
of British prosperity dried up. From this time on when 
tirm hut respectful ai)peals went to the British ministry, 
the}- were seconded by the manufacturers and merchants of 
England, and their imtential \iiices were heeded. The 
King, at least, becmie di^^ati>tie(l with ( Ireenville's leader- 
ship and failure, lie retired him and William Pitt was 
called to the premiership. Ilefore accepting the offer, Pitt 
wanted to know wh.il line nf ])nlicy was to be pursued. 
The King vielded much, c in-.i,-iiting \ery rtductantly to a 
change in the American Stamp .\ct. This .\ct was again 
brought into the Ilnusc ^f ((nHiunns and there was an ani- 
mated discussion (i\er it. I'itl, wlui was in his place in the 
llimse, with his legs swathed in tkiunels, arose and leaning 
upiin his crutches, made une of the most remarkable 
speeches e\"er heard in the Ibiuse of Commons. 

He proposed an alisolute, total and innnediatc repeal nf 
the Stam|) -\ct. wdiile at the same time declaring luigland's 
absiilute sovereigntv xwr the (."ninnies. The propnsition 
\\as w;irml\- seconded^ b\ l-.dmund I'.urke in a brilliant and 
eliKpient address. A re]ieal bill was introduced and on the 
iSth <if March, ijoii. it passed lioth I h. uses of Parliatnent, 
notwithstanding a stout oppositinn to it. in the House of 
Lords, and the bill was signe<l 1>\ the King. In London the 
repeal was hailed with great jny and s.atisfaction as the 
merchants and nianuf.icturers. nnw hnped for a re\ i\-al of 
their pri is]iei'( uis tr.-ule with America. 

Pitt became the "linn" nf the Imnr. with the pnpulace, but 
\\as caricatured and maligned b\ the I'.ritish ar'stncrats. 

When the news nf the re|ie.il reached America there was 
great rejoicing. In I'.nstnn the patrints gathered under the 
"Liberty Tree" and passed laudatory resolutions lu all wdio 
had participated in bringing about tliis re])eal. ".\ day was 
set a()art for celebrating the e\ent. It was ushered in with 
great rejnicing. "At nne n'clnck in the ntnrning after the 



U'alk-s and Talhs About Historic Boston. I.V^ 

news had come, the hell in the tciwer nf tlu- Illllli^ Street 
Church began ringin";: then the hells in Christ (.Inireh an- 
swered and sfum e\'er\- lu'll in tnwn was .inging. (inn- 
were fired, and drums beat, and bands of music wert- playiiiL; 
loudly before twd o'clock. There wasn't much sleep fur 
anybody that morning. The people hung flags from the 
steeples and tops of houses. They kept up the excitement 
all day. and when night came houses were illuminated and 
fireworks were set off on the Common, more spk-ndiil than 
any one before had known." 

Lanterns were hung on the Paddock Elms in front of Major 
Paddock's house, much to that old Tory's indignation, and he 
offered a reward for the names of the men who had desecrated 
his "pets." 

At the suggestion of one of Boston's fair ladies, the liberal 
citizens raised funds and ransomed and set at liberty every 
prisoner for debt in the jails of the New England metropohs 
that the\ might participate in the general joy. 

"Rich merchants threw open their doors and the town gave 
itself up to a general celebration. John Hancock, the ardent 
]>atriot. opened a pijie of wine in front of his fine mansion 
on P>eacon Street. The local government dincfl at the Prov- 
ince House, and toasts were drunk to the health of the King. 
William Pitt and Parliament. Everv year afterward for sev- 
cr.il years. March tSth. the date of the repeal, was celebr.ited 
li\ the ])eopIe. The jieople wcinld meet in Liberty Hall midei' 
ihe tree, show the Ilritish ll;ig fnun the ll.'ig st.aff which ran 
np through the tree, sing songs, hear speeches, make Ion,;.; 
])rocessif)ns. ;inil separate more deterniineil th.in ever to stand 
up for their lilierty. 



"Well-falcd >hack-sl let im unnianly tear 
From pit\'s f\f ilisilaiii \oiir honored bier ; 
Lost til their \ie\v, surviving' friends nia\ nionni. 
Yet o'er thy jiile celestial flames shall burn. 
Lonq- as in treedoin's cause the wise contend. 
Dear to ^■our country shall your fame extend ; 
\Miile to tiie world the lettered stone shall tell 
How Calilwell, Attucks. ( '.ray and ^Maverick fell." 
Fleet's Post. March 12, 1770. 

The .''^lami) Act was repealed, but the Colonists soon per- 
ceived that it was only a truce in the war of the British Par- 
liament upon their liberty. A series of obnoxious measures 
followed which kindled anew their indignation. Although 
Pitt, the friend of America was again called to the Ministry, 
in his shattered health, he seemed to have failed in sagacity. 
He was unable to control the Cabinet, which was made up of 
discordant material. The majority of them were friends of 
the KiuL;" and thoruughh- in svuijiathv with his coercive policy 
towards America. The British tmops sent to the Colonies 
still remained there and the\' had power under the law to 
break into houses and search for deserters. The Royal Gov- 
ernor of X'ew York went so far as to demand of the .\ssem- 
bly an apprehension for the subsistence of the King's in- 
strinnents of oppression. In the absence of Pitt, Charle.^ 
Town^hend became the ruling s]iirit of the British Cabinet, 
lie co-iii)erated with Lord ( irenville, a bitter enem\- of .Vmer- 
ica. in devi>ing new schemes of taxation, and they formed a 
bill iin this liasi-. which was adopted by Parliament. This 
bill levied duties on tea. glass, paper, painters' colors and 
other articles used bv the Colonists, .\nother bill provided for 
a Board of Revenue Commissioners, with headquarters in 
Boston, to be independent of Colonial legislation. The New 
"S'nrk Assemblv was forbidden to perform any legislative act 
whatever, until they shmilil comph" with the mutiny act in 
reu;ard to the subsistence iif trodiis. These bills were clirect 



Il'alhs oiiii r.ilk-s .11',, III Historic Boston. i,S5 

l)l(]\\s against the lilicrtics (if tlic AiiKTicans ami all the Colo- 
nial Asseiiihlies ])roteste(l a^ain^i them. .Meantime the French 
Ciovernnient was keepinu; a clcis,- watch on this struggle he- 
tween l^arliament and the ( Hldnisl'-. ready to give their aid 
to the Americans at the n]i]i(irtuiic niduient. As an ofifset to 
the direct tax hill the \(iii-lin|»iitation Societies, which had 
been discontinned. were renr^anized all over the Colnnies. 
and their ]io\\ertiil ni,udiiner\ . (ince in ii])erati(in. almost de- 




tin i;,,sh,„ l/.i 



^troved the C"mnierce with l-'.nL;land. While the Americans 
stood in an attitude n\ tirin resdhe. not to snhmit to any 
schemes tor their ensla\emenl, they c lunselled moderation 
and condemned an\ hut le^al. just and dignified measures. 
John Dickinson nf reimsylvania, the author of some very 
lirilliant letters tu the (.'olonists. said at this time. "Our cause 
is a cause of the highe'-t <liL;nit\ : it is nothing less than to 
maintain the liberty, which lle.i\en itself hath made us free. 
1 hope it will not he disgraced in any colony by a single rasii 
step. We have constitiuinnal methods of seeking redress and 
they are the best methods." ( )ther patriotic leaders gave 
similar ad\ice. The ]>eoi)le were lu-ged to stand on the de- 



'M> Walks and lalks .Ihoii/ JJisforir Hosfnii. 

fc-iice and not to l)e the aggressors. In short they would make 
the King, his Ministers and the Britisli Parhament, the real 
revohrtionists. The King was determined that the Colonists 
should render implicit obedience and to enforce that, a large 
military force should be sent to America. By letters and 
petitions to Parliament and to ilistinguished men in England, 
the Colonists endeavored to inform and convince the English 
people of the justice of their cause. Many of these docu- 
ments were the pro(hiction of the teeming lirain and facile pen 
of .Samuel .Adams, one of the soundest, purest, most inflexible 
and most incorruptible men of his time, poor in purse but rich 
in principle. Governor Hutchinson said of him: "Me is of such 
an obstinate and inflexible disposition that he could never be 
conciliated by any dffice or gift whatever." William Living- 
ston, an eminent lawyer <if Xcw York, wmte at this time 
(1708): "Eilierty, Religidn and .Science are on the wing to 
these shores. TJie linger of ( iod points out a mighty empire 
to your sons. The l.iiid we possess is the gift of Heaven to 
our fathers. The day dawns on which the foundation of this 
nu'ghty empire is to be laid, by the establishment of a regular 
American Constitution. Before seven years roll over our 
heacB the first stune must be laid." .\nd so it jiroved for in 
1775. the fulfilment be,L;an in e;irnest. The Rexenue Coiumis- 
sioners, and the treaclieroiis (invermir Bernard, sent letters 
to (jeneral Gage in Xew ^'llrk re(|uesting him to hold a regi- 
ment in readiness to send to Boston to assist the Crown Oiifi- 
cers in executing the laws. .\ frigate and a few smaller ves- 
sels of war were ordered to I'oston harbor for tiie saiue pur- 
jiose. This was regarded by the ,\mericans. ;is a \-irtu:d dec- 
1,-iration of war, yet they kept the sword of resistance in the 
scalibard ;is loni.; .is possible. in June, the sloop "i.ibertv." 
belonging t(j John 1 l.incock, whom the Crown ( >ffieers cor- 
dially hated, because of liis oppcjsition to them, was seized ini- 
der peculiar circuiust.mces. She had conu- into the harbor 
with ,1 cargo of Madeini wine. Hancock had resolved to 
resist the olinoxious re\enue laws, and at about nine o'clock 
in the e\eninL;. his ( apt.iin ,ind others in his em|)loy. entered 
tlie cabin, confined the tide waiter, who was in charge, and 
proceeded to land the wine, without entering it ;it the Custom 
House. 

The next day the vessel was seized by the Custom Olificers 
t<ir violating the Revenue Laws. In defiance of the protests 
ol the citizens, who soon became ;in infuriated mol). the sloop 



Walks and Talks .Iboiu lli.\ioik luishm. i.ir 

"i -ihcrty" was towed under the min^ of the I'.ritish inaii-til- 
war Ranney. The mob followed the C'ustoni (Jt^icers to then- 
homes, pelted them with stones and other missiles, and brol.v 
the windows of their offices. They seized a pleasure boai 
beloncjing to the Collector, dragged it through the streets tn 
the Common where thev burned it. Then they quietly dis- 
persed. The llritish Ministry became exasperated when the\ 
learned of the formation of the Non-Importation I.eagues. 
The Assembly of Masachusetts passed certain condemnatory 
resolutions in a circular to the King and his Ministers. Lortl 
Hillsborough demanded that they be rescinded, which the 
Assembly refused to do, saying, "If the votes of this House 
are to be controlled by the direction of a minister, w'e have 
but a vain semblance of liberty." All over the Colonies this 
demand of Lord I lillsborough was regarded as a direct at- 
tempt to abridge if not absolutely control, free discussion, 
and s(i deprive them of their liberties. Chie after another, the 
Assemblies of the other Colonies passed Resolutions approv- 
ing the action of Massachusetts. The Colonies were fast 
being moulded into one body, one sentiment pervading the 
whole resistance to British tyranny. Governor liernard tried 
to keep the people quiet by mischievous duplicity. He was 
false to the ]ieople he governed and to the masters he pre- 
tended to serve. He tried to make Hancock and Adams his 
friends by offering them bribes. lie offereil the lucrative 
office of .\dvocate General to |(ihn ,\dams, then a rising 
young lawyer, who instantlv rejected it. He cautiously ap- 
proache.l that sturdy old Puritan, Samuel .\dams, with the 
oft'er of a jilace, but was met with a stinging rebuke. Op 
( )ctober i, 1768, eight British men-of-war anchored off Long 
\\'harf and two regiments of British soldiers from Halifax. 
were lamled under the guns of the war vessels, in sjiite ot 
the solemn remonstrances of the people. The cowardly (iov- 
ernor, Bernard, went into the country to avnid the storm of 
popular indignation. The Selectmen of the town refused to 
provide quarters for the troops. Colonel Dalrym])le, an Eng- 
lish bully, stormed and threatened, but all in vain, the Select- 
men stood firm. He issued to each of his soldiers, sixteen 
rounds nf ammunition, hoping thus to overawe tlie inhabi- 
t;ints. lie m.archecl hi^ tnMi])^ through the town with fixed 
bayonets, with ;i train of arlillerv following, colors tlvin;^. 
drums beating, as if returning; from ■-ome great \iciorv. I'nt 
there wa^ no fe.ir in the he.irts ol the iieoiile. Thi \ kne\v 



i^S Walks <ind Talks About liisfor'ic Boston. 

that at the tirst act (if violence uii the part of the r.riti>h 
troo])S, t\vem\ thousand men wdnld sprini; to arms from the 
hundred towns n\ Ma^^achn^ett'-. 1 )ah-vni|)l .' appeared be- 
fore the Selectmen with ime or two other otticers and haughtily 
demanded food and shelter for his troops. 

■•^'oll will find hoth at the I'astle" (Castle William) rejilied 
the ( luardians of the tnwn, with the assurance that the law 
was upholding them. "And \<iii will find ([uarters for my 
soldiers?'" asked the Colonel. "We will not," responded the 
Selectmen. Then Dalrvmple hin'rieil away in wrath and en- 
camped one re.giment in tent^ on the L'ommon. and the other 
wav compelled to hi\-onac as licsi they could in the chilly air 
of an ( »ct(il)er night, "file cnupassion of the inhahitants was 
e.xcited for the ])oor soldiers whom they cnuM rot hlame. and 
at nine o'clock the Sons of I.iherty genenui-ly opened Fan- 
euil llall anil allowed the warriors to sl;iml)er there. The 
next da\- was the Sahhath. The unwise 1 )alrymple. again 
]iaraded his troi.|is throu-h the streets, when the people were 
engaged in ]>uhlic wnrshi|i, disturliing tlieiu with the noise 
of the fife ami dnim. I'.very strong feeling nf the Xew Eng- 
lander was thus violateil. His Sahhath was desecrated, his 
worship was disturhed and his jihrrty was infringed. Natural 
hatred of the trodjis. deeii and aliiding. was soon engendered 
and the terms "reliel" and "tyrant" were frcel\- handieil he- 
tween them. 

As ciiJd weather came mh the commander was compelled to 
hire houses at ex<jrhitant rates in which to i|uarter his men 
and to furnish food at the expense of the town. There wa.s 
nothing for the troops to do for the ]ic(iple were orderly. 
The main guard was stationed o])posite the Stale House. ((Did 
State House) with cannon pointing toward the legislative hall. 
The people understood this covert threat and ipiietly laughed 
at it. Governor Bernard himself became convinced at last, 
that the troops could not repress the rising tide of repulilican- 
ism. nor' overturn the authority of the ( lnvernmeiit. The 
Commissioners returned from t'astle William, whither they 
had fled when the storm of iMiimlar indi-nation broke uiion 
them, anil were \er\ haughi\ and o\erhearing when pro- 
tected by armed men. They arrested Hancock and Malcolm, 
the leader of the mob. on false charges, claiming penalties 
for violation of acts of Parliament, amounting to almost half 
a million dollars in Hancock's case. Xot a charge was estab- 
lished. \\'hen the Massachusetts .Assembly met in 17'V), they 



Walks and Talks Ahoui llistor'n- Boston. i.W 

simply oriiaiiizcd, and Uicn lusolvcd lliat it was incompatible 
with their disunity and freedom to deliherate while confronted 
by an armed force. They petitioned the ( iovernor to remove 
the troops from the town bnt their reasonable request was 
met by a haughty refusal. When they learned that (iovernor 
Bernard proposed to go to England, they forwarded a peti- 
tion to the King asking for his removal. One of the Gov- 
ernor's political friends sent to England proofs of his duplic- 
ity, greed, petty malice, mischievous exaggeration, falsehoods, 
and continual plottings, for the destruction of the Massachu- 
setts free government and he was immediately removed from 
the office he had so disgraced. He never recrossed the Atlaiitic 
and died in England in 1 779. When Parliament saw the 
strong combination in .\nierica they commenced to waver, 
but old King (leorge was stubborn, it being his inflexible rule 
never to redress a grievance unless it was prayed for in a 
spirit of obedience and humility, and Lord Xorth was his 
willing .'iiiil most subservient echo. Lord Hillsborough was 
;ds(i .-inother sycophant of the King, and he said: "We can 
^r.nil ncilhini; to th? .\mericans. except what the>- a~k with 
halters around their necks." 

Such was the loss ancl suffering caused b\ the loss of the 
American trade, that the English jieople were on the point 
of rebellion ami King ( leorge had all lie could do to repress 
a riot in the City of London, when the houses of the Crown 
Otificers were attacked, and the King's palace at Whitehall 
was menaced by an immense crowd of p/oplc. It is said that 
the interference of the Royal Guards alone saved the life of 
the King. The attempt to coerce Ani;riea was proving .in 
exjiensive and losing game. The ex]iorts to .\nierica from 
England in 17(18 amounted to Si2,(Xio,(:«o. In I7''i0 thev 
anioimted to only a little over S8,o(jo.ooo. The total produce 
of the taxes the first \-ear was less than S8o,ooo and the ex- 
pense of the new C'ustom House reduced the profits to S1475 
and the extra military expenses in .\merica amounted for tlie 
same time to 8850,000! 

.Samuel Adams was rii;ht when he declared after the repeal 
of the Stamp Act, "The conduct of Engl.and is permitted and 
ordained by the unsearchable wisdom of the .\lniighty for 
hastening the independence of the Colonies." When Lord 
Xorth came into power in 1770 he foimd a bold, bitter and 
ilefiant opposition in Parliament, for many of the thinking and 
well-to-do middle class of the English were beginning to feel 



140 Walks and Talks Aboiil Historic Boston. 

a sympathy for the Colonists. Sir George Saville, in debate, 
charged the House of Commons "with an invasion of the 
rights of the people," when a ministerial member said, "In 
times of less licentiousness, members have been sent to the 
tower for words of less ofifence." Saville replied, "the main 
consideration of my own safety shall never be put in the 
balance against ni\ dut\ to niv constituents. I will own no 
sui)eriiir Init the law^ ; nor bend the knee to any one but tn 
1 lini who made me." 

.\ numljer of the patriotic merchants went to the Governor's 
house to protest. He would not allow them to enter. They 
held a meeting to protest and the Governor sent a sheriff to 
disperse them. 'I'he tnxips wi-re ordered to be in readiness 
and furnished with ball cartridges, and the haughty Colonel 
Dalrymple would have been only too glad of the opjiortunity 
to fire upon the citizens at the least provocation, 

John Hancock wrote a respectful letter to the ( iovernor, 
stating- that their meeting was a law ful nnc and they would 
not disperse. Governor Hutcbinsdu knew the determination 
and disposition of llostnniims and acted wisely in not pressing 
the matter, bihn ( iray nf lldStoii had an extensive rope 
walk, which eniplnycd a large nimiber of patriotic men, 
who, as thev passed daily by the barracks of the troops to 
and frdin their work, bandied coarse taunts with the soldiers. 
( >n tile Jd I'lf March 1770, a soldier who applied for work at 
tlu- nipe walk was rudely turned away. He challenged the 
men to a boxing match and was severely beaten. Full ol 
wrath he hastened to the barracks and returned with several 
ciiin]):inions when they beat the ropemakers and chased them 
ihrciugii the streets. This was the prelude to what is known 
in American histnr\' ,as the 

n()STON M.\SS.\CRK 

i'lic citizens esjioused the cause nf the rope makers and a 
large crowd assembled in the .afternoon to |nim'sh the soldiers, 
but i\lr. Gray and the military authorities interfered and pre- 
vented further disturbances for the time l)eing. The citizens 
dispersed, but resohed t(i renew the cmUest, and the soldiers 
in the barracks prepared bludgeons and gave warning to their 
particular friends not In be abro.ad on .\binday m'ght. l-re-b 
wei snow had fallen. Monday e\ening. the 5th of March, 
fn.si li,i,l oucred the streets of I'.oston with a coat of ice. 



Walks and Talks .Iboiil Ilisloric Boslon. M' 

T\w moon was in the first qunrtcT, and shed a pale light over 
the town; wlnen at twiliglit. holh citizens and soldiers began 
to assemble in the streets. P.y seven o'clock full seven hun- 
dred people, armed with clubs and other weapons, were on 
King f State) Street, and. provoked by the insolence and 
brutalitv of the lawless soldiers, shouted, "Let us drive out 
these rascals, thev have no business here! drive them out!'' 
At the same time parties of soldiers, whom Dalrymple had 
doubtless released from the barracks, for the purpose of pro- 
voking the people to commit some act of violence, and so give 
him an excuse for letting "loose the dogs of war." were going 
about the street, boasting of their valor, insulting citizens 
with coarse words, and striking many of them with sticks and 
sheathed swords. Meanwhile the peojile in the streets were 
increasing in numbers every minute, and at about nine o'clock 
in the evening they attacked some soldiers in Dock .S(|uare 
and shouted: "Town born, turn out! Down with the bloody 
backs!" They tore up the stalls of a market and used the 
timber for bludgeons. The soldiers scattered and ran about 
the streets, knocking people down and raising the fearful cry 
of fire. At the barracks on P.rattle street, a subaltern at the 
gate cried out as the populace gathered there : "Turn out ! I 
will stand by you. Knock them down ! Kill them ! Run vour 
bayonets through them!" The soldiers rushed nut, and level- 
ing their muskets, threatened to ni;tke :i l;ine ]ia\ed with dead 
men through the crowd. Just then an officer was crossing the 
street, when a barber's boy called out, "There goes a mean 
fellow who will not pay my master for shaving him." .'X 
sentry stationed near the Custom House (on .State Street near 
the Union Bank P.uilding) ran out and knocked the bov down 
with his gun. The cry of fire and the riotous behavior of the 
soldiers caused an alarm l)ell in be rung, and the whole 
town was aroused. While all this excitement was in progress 
in tine streets between the British soldiers and tl:e citizens of 
Boston, Captain Preston, commanding the com])anv, was en- 
joying an entertainment ;il t'oncert I l;dl. on tlie corner n\ 
FTanover and Court Streets. Tie was called out by an excited 
messenger, who told him that a fracas had started between 
his troops and a crowd of Bostonians and his presence was 
needed at once. He rushed out and down to the scene of 
action. Soiue of the leading citizens tried to persuade the 
crowd to disperse .-md h,i(! ;ihnost gained their respectful 



M- Walks aihi Talks .-UKuit Historic Boston. 

atremiiiti. when a tall man. covered with a Ions; scarlet cloak 
an 1 w earing a white wij;;. suddenly appeared anion;:; them and 
hci^an a violent harangue against the Government officers and 
the troo]!-, concluding his intlaniniatorv speech 1)\ holdK' sav- 
ing: "To the main guard I To the main guard I There is the 
Iie-.t '" The pojiulace immediately echoed the words, '"to the 
main guard," with vehemence, and separating into three 
rank^, took different routes towards the r|uarters of the main 
guard. While one division was jiassing the Custom TTouse. 
the l>arl)L-r's lioy called nut: "'There is the scoundrel who 
knocked me down." llu- crowd instantlv began pelting him 
w'tli snow halls, and hit^ of ice and pressed towards him. He 
raided his musket and jmlled the trigger. Fnrtunatelv for 
him. it missed tire when the crowd tried to seize him. As he 
ran. calling for help. Captain Preston, the officer of the dav, 
■-ent eight men with unloaded muskets, hut with ammunition 
in their cartridge boxes to help their comrade. TTenrv Knox, 
afterwards General in the Continental .\rmv. was standing 
nearbv. and seizin,g Preston, be.gged him to recall his men. 
"If thev fire." said Kno.x. "your life must answer for the 
consequences." Preston answered. "J know what I am 
about." and followed his men. The crowd pelted this detach- 
ment with snriwballs and ice. and Crispu* .\ttuck^, a brawnv 
ncuro fmm Xantucket. L'ave a lond war whucpp and -Ik mted ■ 
"Let ii> fall upnn the rr^t ' the main i.'uanl ' 'he n'.iin "n-ril !" 
The -nldiers instanth' loarled their guns. The crowd pressed 
on them, struck their muskets and cried out "'S'on are cow- 
ardly rascals for bringing arms against naked men." 

.\ttucks shouted, '"'S'ou dare not fire.'' and called on the 
crowd behind him to come on. Tust tlien i aptain Preston 
came ui). and tried to ajipease the multitude, and p.irried a 
blow with his arm. which .\ttucks had aimed at his head. 
Tt strucl< the mu-ket of a soldier and knocked it to the ground 
and ;i -truggle ensued l)etween .\ttucks and the soldier for its 
pO'S-e^^ion. Captain Pre-ton called out. "\\'h\- don't \ou tire' 
^^ h\- ilon't you tire"" The strug.gling soldier hearing the 
word "lire" ju^t as he .gained possession of his musket, drew 
his piece and ^IkjI Attucks dead. Five other soldiers fired at 
short intervals without any restraint by Preston. The killed 
were Samuel ( iray, Samuel AFaverick. James Caldwell, Cris- 
pus .\ttucks and Patrick Carr. Six were wounded, two of 
them mortally. Christopher Mack and John Clark. Five of 



Walks and Talhs About Historic Boston. U,' 

the populace were killed, six were wounded (two mortally) 
and four were slightly hurt. Of the eleven, only one f At- 
tucks) had actually taken part in the disturbance. The crowd 
dispersed and when citizens came to pick up the dead the 
infuriated soldiers would have shot them, had not Cajitain 
Preston restrained them. 

The news of the tragedy, which occurred near midnight, 
went like wild fire over the town. Alarm hells rang, drums 
beat, and the cry went forth, "the soldiers are murdering the 
people I to arms I to arms!" (/nlonel Dalrymple and the Lieut. 
Ciovernor were soon on the spot, and promised the orderly 
citizens that iustice should he vindicated in the morning. 
Meanwhile Preston had been arrested and put into prison, and 
the next morning the ei,ght soldiers were committed, all 
charged with the crime of murder. 

Such is the story of the Boston Massacre gleaned from the 
evidence of witnesses at the trial of Preston and his men. 
The killing of citizens was undoubtedly a massacre as the out- 
rageous conduct of the soldiers created the mob, which was 
ajjproved by Dalrymjile. their Commander. At such a time 
of popular excitement it was his duty to keep his soldiers in 
their barracks. There is not the least doubt but that he 
hoped for an excuse "to begin work in Boston," 

The dav following, Pieutenant-Ciovernor Hutchinson con- 
vened his Council and the citizens of Boston held a great 
Town fleeting in the Old South Meeting House, then the 
largest audience room in the city. Here the people unani- 
mouslv resolved "that nothing could be expected to restore 
peace and prevent carnage but an immediate removal of the 
troops. On the following dav the lion hearted Samuel Adams 
and fourteen other jjatriots waited ujjon the I^ieutenant-Gov- 
ernor and Colonel Dalrymijle and presented the Resolution 
passed at the mass meeting of citizens. After c^uite a discus- 
sion the Governor a.greed to send one regiment to Castle 
William. This failed to prove satisfactory when reported at 
the adjourned meeting, who resolved "that nothing alse would 
satisfv them but a total and immediate removal of all the 
troops." 

.^amuel Adams, John Hancock. William Molineux. William 
Philli])s. Joseph Warren. Joshua Henshaw and Samuel Pem- 
berton were appointed to convex- the Resolutions to the Civil 
and Militarv authorities, .\dams presented the Resolutions. 
Ilutchinsou said he had no power to remove the troops. 



J-J4 H'alks and Tolhs- .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 

Adams ])r()\c'(l thai he hail l)y ihe provisions of the- I barter. 
The Crown UiTicers hesitated. Adams, lirni as a rock, resolved 
that there should he no nmre temporizing. Stretching forth 
his hand and tnnn'm.; tcjward the (i<i\ernor, he said, in a clear, 
rini^ing \(iice. "It mju ha\e power tci remove one regiment 
you ha\e power to remu\e both. It is at your peril if vou do 
not. The meeting is composed of three thousand people. 
They are becoming very impatient. A thousand men have al- 
reaily arrived fmiii the neiL;bh(irhriiid and the country is in 
general m(ili(.)n. Night is .ipprdacbing, an immediate answer 
iv expected." 

llutchinson grew ]iale, his knees trembleil, and Adams en- 
i(i\eil the sight and as a result the Crown (Jilicers issued the 
order for the removal of the troops to Castle William. The 
people triumphed and the ( Hd South Meeting House rang 
with shouts and exclamaliims nf jn\-. 

John Adams, late in life, depicted the dramatic scene in the 
Council Chamber, whvn the demand of the citizens assembled 
at the Old South was carried to Governor Hutchinson at the 
Old State House. 

He says: The day was waning, and the room was lighted 
only by the blaze from the open fireplace, b'rom the walls 
looked down the portraits of dead Kings of England and 
( li ivcrnors of the Province. .\t the head of the Council Board 
sat I iovenior Hutchinson, a good and able man, but sorely 
tried and perplexed. At bis right hand sat Colonel Dalrvmple, 
.ami about the lioard were the Councillors in their scarlet coats 
and large white wigs. I'.efore them all stood Samuel .\ilams. 
cl;id in his plain red cloak, spokesman for the Committee and 
through them for the citizens of Boston. His band trembled 
;is be sjioke, but his eyes flashed tire, and bis voice was firm 
and imliroken, meeting the Governor's evasions and subter- 
fuges with the terse demand. "Both regiments, or none." The 
Go\ernor still resisted howe\-er. while the hours passed and 
the shadc.iws deepened in the chamber. ( )ne bv one the Coun- 
cillors and Colonels yielded, and still the Governor stood out 
alone, until at last, Andrew Oliver, his Secretary and chief 
reliance counselled that further resistance was useless. Then 
the Governor gave Colonel Dalryniple the formal recoinmend- 
ation and the Committee returned to their fellow townsmen 
at the Old South with the glad news of success. The troops 
were removed and in derision were called '"Sam Adams' 
Regiments." 



Il'alks ami Talks Aboul Historic Boston. U,^ 

The tnio|)> IkuI l)oen sent to (i\CTa\ve the people hut ihe 
peoi)lL' had overawed the troops. The funeral of the victims 
of tlie Massacre occurred on the 8th of March and was a great 
popular demonstration. "Four hearses hore the bodies of 
( rispus Attucks, Samuel Maverick, Samuel (iray ami Janic-- 
t'alilwell. who were murdered, met at the spot in King Street 
where the tragedv was enacted. Thence they moved to the 
Middle Kurying ( iround, followed liy an immense concourse 
ni peciple and the hddies were placed in one vault." 

Jiihn Adams wrdte long afterwards, "Not the battle ot 
Lexingt'iii, (jr lUmker Hill, not the surrender of lUirgoyne 
or t'ornwallis, were more important events than the battle 
of King .Street, on the fifth of March. 1770." In the autumn 
of 1770. after the excitement over the event had somewhat 
subsided, L'aptain Preston and his men were tried for mur- 
der, in a court in I'.oston, Jusiah Ouincy, jr. and John .\dams 
were counsel for the ])risoners. They were severely criticised 
by their compatriots, but thev entered upon their duties with 
humane motives and discharged them with fidelity to their 
clients, the law and the testimonv. Roliert Treat Paine, after- 
wards (inc of tlu' signers of the l^eclaration iif Independence, 
was the ciinn>el fur the L'rnwn. Proton and six of his sol- 
diers were declared "not guilty" 1i\ a I'.ustdn jury. The other 
two, the soldier who killed .\ttncl<s. and tlie otlici- who shot 
T^Iaverick. were convicted of manslaughter, only and for that 
otTence thev were each branded (in the hand, in open court 
and discharged. The place nf the massacre on State Street 
is indicated b\ ;i sliine bluck, with pa\ing stdUes radiating 
tberefi'nm, almut twelve feel sduib iif the southeast corner of 
State and l''xchange Streets. ( )u the west curner of b'xchange 
Street is this tablet : 

( )pposite this Spot 
Was shed the first P.lood 

nf the 

AMPRIC.X.X Rl'A ( )l.l"TI<JN 
.March 3. 1770 

The citizens of I'.ostdu could not furgel (his massacre of her 
citizens in her streets and the 3th nf March was a memorable 
day in the calendar for many years. .\t a tnwn meeting held 
March 3. 177S, the following vote w;is ]>assed : "Rescihed That 
the lion. Samuel .\dams, Xalhanicl I'.arber. l-.s(|.. William 



14'' JValks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

Cooper, Esq.. John Pitts, Esq., John ScoUay. Esq.. WilHam 
.Vustin, Esq., and Percy Morton, Esq., be and hereb\- are 
appointed a Committee to apply to a proper gentleman 
to dehver an oration on the 5th of March next to perpetuate 
the memory of the hdrrid massacre perpetrated on the even- 
ing of the 3th of Ahiroli, 17711. In' a party of soldiers of the 
9th Regiment imder the cummand of Captain Thomas Preston, 
and to impress on our minds the ruinous tendency of standing 
armies being placed in free and poimlous cities in a time of 
peace ; and the necessity of such noble exertion in all future 
times as the inhabitants of the town then made whereby the 
designs of the conspirators against th.- public peace may still 
be frustrated." 

"This Connnittee made choice of (."olonel William Tudor, 
and we mav be sure he did justice to the subject. The oration 
was deli\'ered at 1 o'clock, noon, in the < Md .'-^outh Meeting 
House, ( )ld 1^'aneuil llall not being capacious enough to re- 
ceive the inhabitants that attended upon the occasion. The 
several bells in the town were tolled for half an hour, begin- 
ning at one C[uarter of an hour .'ifter i) o'clock. The oration 
was delivered to a large and crowded audience and received 
by them with great applau^e." The observance of the ;umi- 
versar\ of thi-- nia--sacre was discontinue<l in 17S3 In' a mo- 
tion which stated "that it was the oi>inion of niany of the 
inhabitants that it wciuM be for the |)uhlic benefit to exchange 
the present institiuion iny another of the same general nature, 
such, for instance, as an .anniversary for celebrating the glo- 
rious ;uid happy I'eclaration of Indeyjendence of the I'nited 
.^tat.s of .America, in which the or.'itor might consider the 
steps that led t(j this gre.'il Uevohition. 



JDrccmbcf 10, 1773 

"The \va\i-s tluit wrciui^ht a crmntry's wreck. 
Have rolled o'er Wilis' and Tory, 
The Mohawks on the Dartmouth's deck, 
Shall live in Song' and Story. 
The waters in the rebel hay. 
Have kept the tea leaf savor, 
( )ur old Xorth lenders in their sjiray 
Still taste a Hyson flavor : 
And iM-eedom's teacup still o'erflows. 
With evri- fresh lihations, 
To cheat nf slumber all her foes 
And cheer the wakening' nations." 

Oliver Wendell Holmes. 

I'.ancnift. the hislori.iu. says: "The destruction in Boston 
H.'irhor in December. 1 77.v nf the car.i.;oes of tea sent to that 
]iort l)v the F.ast Imlia (Dmiiany. was, by far, the nio-t 
nioiuentous in the ainials of the town." It is tjenerally con- 
ceded to have been the most prominent cause which led to the 
.\nierican Revolution. The arbitrary course of the British 
( iovernment for ten vears previous had caused great agitation 
in the Colonies and had educated the peo])le to a clear percep- 
tion <if their rights. If they were to be taxed to support the 
r.ritish < iMvernment. they contended that they should be repre- 
sented in the liritish Parliament. The watchword with the 
Ijatriots was: — "Taxation without rei)resentation is tyranny." 
In that lung controversy jireceding the resort to arms, the 
l)eople of ('.real r.rii.-iin seem to have entirely forgotten their 
own histor\ and bow long .ind tenaciously their ancestors 
fought for their rights, wresting, as at Runnymede, conces- 
sions from despotic monarchs. ( )nly one explanation can be 
.given of their course, and that is well stated by a writer on this 
subject, "Their difficulty seems to have been that they 
looked upon .\mericans, not ,'is their equals, but as in- 
feriors, as their subiects, and ;is b.aving no rights that tlie 



Mf^ 



Il'iilks and Talk's About Historic 



3ostou. 



Kn,L;lislinian w ;i^ IjihiikI tn respect." 'flic celclirated 
moralist, 1 )r. |iilin-.ini. |irnl)alil\- rei)rescntcil (|iiitc a class, 
when he said uf the American^, "'riiey are a race of con- 
\icts and on.i;ht to he thankful f(ir anything;- we allow them 
short of han^iiiL;." h'.n^land at that ]>eriod had been en- 
u;'a.L;ed in a series of lon;^- and co'-tl\ wars and was deeply 
in deht. She looked across the sra and saw the American 
('olonies L;ro\\-in'j; rai)idl\- in wealth and pupnlat'on. 1 lere 




/■„,/,,. //.,-. „,/,. 



was a L^old ndne, which, if propcrU" workeii, would help 
\-ery materially [<< '-eplcnish the l\inL;"'s coti'ers. ".Mi.nht 
ni:ik-es ki^lit" was thf niello of the corrupt llritish min- 
istry of those days ,ind with' 'lit asking- the advice or ap- 
pnwal of the I'okmisis the odious Stamp Act was passed 
in i^'i.T. The fate of that olmoxinus measure is Avell known. 
'J hen came the tax mi tea. The Ifast India L'om|)an\' had 
sexenteen million ]iounds of tea in warehouses, and a lai'L^er 
importation than usual cnnini; in lr(pin India. 

With the temper prexailiuL; iti -\merica, on the (piestion 
of taxation, the compaiu' saw that llu' prohtalile market of 
America would he cut •>((. and tluw were in dire financial 



Walks iiitd Talks Aboul Historic Boston. W> 

straits. They could nut pay tin- ik-hts of the campan_\\ tn 
say nothing of dividends. in tlieir e.xtremity tlie l-last 
India Company offered to pay tlie llritish Government an 
export duty of six pence [ler pi mud on the tea, if they would 
take off the three pence per pound import duty in America. 
But, determined to pursue a coercive policy with the 
Americans, the J'.ritish Government refused to entertain 
the |jr()positii)n. By an Act of Parliament, passed IMay lO, 
^77.^- t'lt" I'-ast India Company, in exportation of its teas to 
America, were allowed a drawback of the full amount of 
Engli.sh duties, binding itself only to pay three pence per 
piiund on its being landed in the English Colonies and the 
comjiany given a license to export si.x hundred thousand 
pounds, which were to he sent to Ilr)ston, New York. Phila- 
delphia and Charleston, .'-^. ('.. the principal American ports. 
The East India Comjjany lodked nn this matter in purely 
a commercial light, Imt tn the C'nlonists it was a (piestion 
of abstract principle, atid the new Tea Act did nijt deceive 
them as to the purpose of the llritish Go\'ernment. This 
last Act solidified the Colonists, they felt that right and 
justice was on their side. "It was not that they were poor 
and unable t<i pay. hut because they would nrit submit to 
wrong. The\' were prosperous and happy. It was uiion a 
community at the very height of its iirosiicrity that this 
insidious scheme suddenlv fell, and it immeiliately roused 
a more general opposition than hafl been created by the 
.'stamp .\ct." Benjamin Franklin said at this time : "The 
Ministrv believe that three pence a pound on tea. of which 
one does not. perha])s. drink, ten pounds a year, is sufficient 
to overcome the iiatriotism of an .\merican." 

.\n extract from a letter written by Abraham I.ott, dated 
November 13. \JJ^^. .L;a\e tlu- I'.riti^h ])ublic fair warning of 
what was to come. lie says; "if the tea arrives subject to 
duty, there will be no such thing as selling it, as the people 
would rather buv so much imison, for they say it is cal- 
culated to enslave them and their posterity, and are deter- 
mined not to take what they call the nauseous draught." 
.\ paper called "The Alarm" jniblished at this time by the 
])atriots in New ^'ork. was determined in its opposition to 
this measure .and one article exhorted the .\mericans. to 
"o|ieii their e\ c^. and then like son^ of liberty, throw oft' 
all c-onnection with the tyr.ant, the mother country." .\ 
r.riti^h officer \\u<U- to n frieml in London; "All America. 



I50 ll'alks and Talks About IJi.ifuric Boston. 

is in a llanic un accouiU uf the lea importation. The New 
Yorkers as well as the Bostonians and Philadelphians, are 
determined that no tea shall be landed. Tliev have raised 
a company of artillerv and almost e\ery day are practisini; 
at a target. Their independent companies are out ancl 
exercise e\ery day. The minds nf the towns-people are in- 
fluenced b\' these principles. Tlie\' swear they will Inu'n 
every tea ship that conies in." A -\'ew 'N'ork paper said: 
".\re the .\niericans >nch lilnckheads as to care whether it 
be a 'red hot ])oker.' or a 'hut red pciker,' which they are to 
swalliiw, pro\ ided Lord Xorth furces them to swallow one 
of the two?" A handliill \\a^ circuhited in I 'hiladelphia 
with the headinL;'. " Wv InitinL; We Stand, b\- 1 )i\idini; We 
I'all." In it the factia> of tlie l{a-t India Lomi)any were 
characterized as "])olitical bombardiers to demolish the fair 
structure of Liberty." In i'hiladclphia the consignees of 
the tea, Messrs. Wharton, were waitted upon by a com- 
mittee, who requested them out of regard to their own 
characters, and the ]nil)lic ])eace and good order of the city, 
to resign their .ap]" lintment, and the consignees ga\e a 
satisfactory reply to this a|ipeal. In lloston, the le;iding 
liatriots saw that they must organize if they would m.ake 
their work effective, and what \\as known as the ■'.Xorth 
F.nd I'.i'icns" was org;inized Iw I )r. Jose|)h Warren, who. 
with one other person, drew up its reg-ulati( lus : and meet- 
ings were held in the JKiuse of William Campbell, near the 
Xorth l'.atter\ and sometimes in the "( Ireen I )ragon Tav- 
ern." also known as the Freemason's Arms. This Tavern 
stood near the northerlx corner of L'nion and ITano\er 
Streets. The members of the Xorth IukI Caucus were mostly 
mechanics, man\- of them shipcaulkers. Hence the name 
"Caucus" now generall\ used, for ]M-eliminary political meet- 
ings. At this X'ortli l\nd Caucus, committees for ]iublic ser\-- 
ice were appointed and measures of defence, and res(ilves for 
the destruction of the tea, discussed. Paul Revere. |o1in 
Hancock and S.anuiel .\dams w ei'e regul.ir attendants at 
these g.'itherings. S|)e,aking of these meetings, I'aid l\e\ ere 
-a'd: 'AX (■ were so careful that our meetings ^h<iidd lie 
kept secret that every time we met, every ])erson swore 
upon the I'dble not to discover any of our transactions, but 
to ll.ancock, .\dams or Church, and one or two other lead- 
ers." It w;is at one of these meetini.;s, when the best meth- 
od of e.xliellinu the I'.ritish re;,.;ulars f r. mi I'.oston. w ,is under 



Il'aUcs and Talks Ahoul Historic Boston. 151 

disciissiiin, that Julm llancuck exclaimed: "Burn Boston 
and make Julin I Lnui ick a Ijeggar if the pulslic good re- 
quires it. " The "Xorih End Caucus" was included in the 
later organization of "The Sons of Liberty."' 

In the year 1755 Benjamin Edes, already referred to, 
began witli Jolin (lill. ihe jniblicatii in of the "Boston Ga- 
zette and L'imntr\' Journal;" il \\a^ a newspaper of de- 
served ])opularit\ , and unsur|)assed in its ])id_)lic zeal for 
liljert}'. It was the clmsm mouthpiece of the Whigs. The 
Adamses. Ouincy and W arren were frequent contributors 
to its columns. Their i;>rinting office was on the corner of 
Court Street and Franklin Avenue where the building of the 
Old Ciilonv Trust Ci.impany nnw stands. During the siege 
of Jiosti m the "( lazette" was issued at \\'atertown. It was 
discontinued September 17, iyi)X. It was in the back room 
of this printing office that sunie nf the Tea Party Indian 
braves, arrayed themseKes on that memorable December 
night. .\ long room over the ])rinting office was the favor- 
ite meeting place of these most ardent patriots, and it liecame 
known as the "Long Roum t'lub" and it is said that the 
destruction of the tea was plannetl by this Club. There 
gathered in council in this room such famous and sterling 
men as Sainuel Adams, John Hancock, James Otis, Dr. 
Joseph ^^'ar^en, Benjamin Church, Samuel Dexter, Paul 
Revere, Dr. .Samuel Cooj^er. William Cooper, Thomas 
Dawes, Samuel Phillips, Roy.il Tyler, Thomas Fleet. Will- 
iam JVIolineux and Thomas .\Icl\ille. They were a Good 
Government Committee, the like of which Boston has never 
seen. When the names of the consignees of the tea be- 
came known, the patriots at once began operations. They 
were summoned on the 2d of November to appear at the 
Libert\- Tree, three days later and in the presence of a 
gathering of citizens to resign their commissions. A hand 
bill was circulated among the citizens notifying them of 
the meeting and its object. A large flag was hung out on 
Libertv Tree. The town crier announced the meeting at 
the top of his xnice and the church bell^ rang f(ir an hour. 
At noon f\\f hundred i)ersons assembled. Samuel .\dams. 
John ll.ancock and William Phillips, representatives of 
Boston, were present, with William Cooper, the patriotii- 
Town ( lerk, and the Hoard of .Selectmen. The consignees 
failing tn a]>|)e;ir. a committee consisting of Wiliiam 
Molinetix. William Dennie, Dr. loseiih Warren, Dr. Ben- 



15- Walks 011(1 I\ilhs About Historic Boston. 

jaiiiin (,'hurcli. I Icmlrr^' ui Inclu---. ]ul\var<l 1 'i-i uti ir. Xa- 
tliaiiiel liarher. (lalirii-l JnlKinnut and F.zt-kic-l Chcever, 
waited on tlu-m at ClarkV wareln mse. fiuit <:>t Kins^ i State) 
Street. 

(iii\ern(ir 1 1 ntcliinsnn ^a\\ iliein a> they passed the Old 
Slate Hiiuse and aihnitled tliat many of the l)etter chiss of 
citizens were in the ennipany. William ^Mulineux was the 
s])ok-esnian nf the cummittee. " I'n im whum are ynu a 
ciimmittee?" asked (lark, "h'nim the \vhiile pei.iple." was 
the replv. ■'\\'1ki are the cummittee ?'" "I am one," said 
.Mi>Iinen.x and then he named the either memliers. "What 
ix \iinr request?" "That ymi oi\e us y<iur uurd to sell 
nune <if the teas in \iiur charge, hut to return them to 
1,'iidiin in the same hollum^ in which they were shipped. 
W ill yiiu comply''" "1 >hall lia\ e nothini^ u> do with you," 
was the rough and [lereniptnr}- replv and the other con- 
signees who were present concurred. Molineux then read 
the Resolutions passed at the Liberty Tree, that those who 
refused to comply wth the recpiest of the i)eople "were 
enemies to their countr\- and should be dealt with accord- 
ingl)-." When the waiting crowd outside the warehouse 
le;irned the result of the inter\'iew the crv was r.aised: 
"< 'ut with them I ( )nt with them!" ijnile an excitement 
followed and the cousigneo narrowh' escaped nioli vio- 
lence. In their correspondence regarding the affair, the 
con>iL;neev attempted to make it appear that "the crowd 
was Composed of people- of the lowest class." Hut tin- 
political assemblies of thos,- da\s fairl\- represented the 
body of the peciple. The town meeting held on the 5th of 
\o\ ember was presided o\ er by John llaticock and was 
a famous meeting — and others followed full of exciteinent 
atid patri(.itic fervor. .\notlu-r committee, including the 
Selectmen, visited the consi^^nee^ and recpiested theiu out 
of regard to their own character, and the jieace and good 
of the town and proxince to immediateh' resign their ap- 
pointment. 

At an adjourned meeting in the aftenioijn the coniiuittee 
appointed to inter\iew the consignees reportt-d that they 
had seen Mr. Clark and Mr. I'aneuil, two of the consignees, 
who would not give a definite answer until they had seen 
tile other consig'uees and postponed their reply to the fol- 
lowing Monday. This .-mswc-r w ,•[-- unsatisfactory. .\t a 
crowded meeting in l-",-ini-inl Hall on .^aturdax. the com- 



Jt'alks and Talks .Iboiil IHstoiic Boston. '5.^ 

mittee rcpurtccl tliat l-'lisha 1 lutcliiii^dii. cnu- o[ tlic con- 
signees, was ritlu-r in .Milton or lldstnn. Tlionias Ihitcliin- 
son. Jr.. in a letter, infonned the citizens that "when the 
tea arrixed the\ wcjuld tlien be sufficiently informed to an- 
s'\i-r xhv rei|uest (if the inhabitants." This reply stirred 
up scinie of the hot IiIchkI in the assemldy, and tliere ^.\as 
a cr\ nf "'I'd amis !" Hut discretion pre\ailed. Meanwhile 
th^' tea ships were nearinu;- I'.oston Ilarlior. The leaders 
or_ both sides saw that a crisi^ was at hand. ( iovernor 
1 lutchinsdii clearly saw that this would ])rove a more diffi- 
cult .-iti'air to handle than any which had yet confronted 
him. When the i>atriotic Thomas Milllin of Thiladeliihia 
\i-itcd I'.dsiiin, In- s.iid to s. mie of thr ]iatriots: "Will you 
en^a^e that the tea shall not be landed? If so, 1 will an- 
swer for I'hiladelphia." And they pledged their Imnor 
that the tea should not be landed, .\o\ember \J the news 
came from London that three ships having" the h'ast India 
Cunii)any's tea on board had s.iiled for Boston. 'I'he ne.xt 
day a Town Meeting was heltl with John Hancock, Mod- 
erator, and this was the last time in which public senti- 
ment was brought to bear upon the consi.gnees. The meet- 
ing was (piiet and orderK- atid its business quickly de- 
spatched. The final answer of the consignees in \vriting 
was receis'ed in which the\- sa\' "that our friends in I'.ng- 
land ha\e entered into general engagements in our behalf, 
merelv i:)f a commercial nature, which jiuts it out of oin- 
P'^wer to comply with the recpiest of the town." \fter 
reading the letter the meetin.g dissolved without comment. 
Hutchinson, one of the consi,gnees, says: "This sudden dis- 
sohttion struck more terror into the consignees than the 
most violent resdlves." John .'^collay. Chairman of the 
Board of Selectnu-n, tdld the cdusignees plainly that iidth- 
ing less than sending the tea back to England would satisfy 
the people. ( )n Sunday, November 28, 1773, tin- slii|i 
"!)artniouth," L'a])tain flail, owned bv Francis Rdtch, the 
Quaker, arrived in i'.dstdu with 114 chests of tea du bo.-ird, 
and anchored below the t'astle. There was intense excite- 
ment when the fact became known. I )espite the rigi<l ob- 
ser\ance ni the .Vew I'.ngland Sabbath, the Selectmen hehi 
a meeting immediately, and remained in session until nine 
o'clock in the evenin.g, in e.\])ectation of receivin,g the pro- 
l.)osal of the consignees. These gentlemen could not be 
found. The next day, bidding a temi)orarv farewell to 



154 ll'alks mill Talks Ahoiil Historic Boston. 

JJostiiii. tlifv tdi.ik up their quarters at the Castle umler the 
piotectii.in of I'.ritish soldiers. Samuel Adams sent a sum- 
mons til the cciuimittee and the towns people to a mass 
meeting td l)e held in Faneuil Hall, the next day, Muntlay. 
A hand hill was distributed throughout the city which read 
as follows: "Friends. Brothers. Countrymen! That worst of 
plagues, the detested tea slii|)p<-'d f i 'r thi> |)(irt In the I'.ast 
India Company, is now arri\e<l in this harhor; the hour 
of destruction, or manly Dpposition to the machinatii ins df 
tyranny stares you in the face ; every friend of his country, 
to himself, and ]>( isterit}'. is now called upon tn meet at 
Faneuil Hall at nine n'clock this day, at which time the 
bells ring', to make a united and successful resistance to 
tins last and most destructi\e measure of administratii.in." 
A*- nine o'clock Xii\ ember jo, 1773. nearh- five thousand 
pCMple thronged in and aroun<l I'aneuil Hall. At that time, 
th" hall was iniK- about half as large as it is now, and it 
was entirely inadequate t<i hold the vast concourse that 
had come together. Jonathan Williams, a wealthy and in- 
fl';enti;d citizen, was chosen ^[oderator. The Selectmen 
were John Scollax , John Hanc(.ick, Timoth}- Xewell. 
Tlionias Xewhall, Samuel Austin, ( )li\ er Wendell and 
jolni I'itt^. The ])atriotic and efficient 'I'ow n Clerk, Will- 
iam Cooper was aK, I present, ."^amuel .\danis. Dr. Joseph 
Warren, John Flancc^ck, Dr. Young and William Molineux, 
a'l took part in the animated discussion, ."^^amuel Adams 
offered tiie following resolution which was unanimously 
a''opted : "Kt-soKcd, that the tea should not be landed, that 
it should be sent back in the same bottoms to the place 
whence it came, at all e\ cuts, and that no duty shall be 
paid on it." To better accommodate the xast crowd the 
meeting adjourned to the "( )ld South." It is greatly to 
be regretted that we lia\e no ix-cord of the speeches deliv- 
ered at that adjourned meeting. (io\'ernor Flutchinson 
writing concerning this meeting said: "That nothing could 
be more infiammatcjr\ than the speeches. Adams was 
never in greater ujlory." and of consignees, he said: "They 
apprehended that they would be seized, and may be tarred 
and feathered, and carted, — an American torture, in order 
to compel them to a compliance." Dr. Young held that 
the only wa\' to get rid of the tea was to "throw it over- 
board," and this appe;irs to br the first su-L^fstion of what 
actnallv happened. 'I'he citizens at the meeting sent word 



Walks ,ni,l Talks .Ihoiil Historic Boshni. 155 

to the owner of tlie vessel, and Xn the captain, "that the 
ertrv of the tea. or the hindini;- uf it. wouhl l)e at their 
peril.'' 

The ship was ordered to be moored at (iriffin's Wharf, and 
u watch of twenty-five men were appointed for the securiis 
of vessel and carso, and Captain Edward Proctor was Cap- 
tain of the gnard that niijht. This guarding of the ship was 
kept up until December id. and the service was performed 
with military precision. I'Lvery half hour during the night 
the wordb. "aU's well."' passed from Sentry to Sentry. Some 
of the "Solid men" were members of this guard, and anmng 
them were Paul Revere, lienjamin Edes. John Hancock and 
Henrv Knox. The • )liver \\'endell whom we have men- 
tioned as one of the Selectmen of lloston. and a prominent 
patriot, was a judge. His daughter. Sarah, married the Rev. 
Abiel Holmes, the father of our well beloved poet. Oliver 
Wendell Holmes. The papers of these days were filled with 
items concerning this tea question. In fact but little else was 
talked about : it was the all engrossing topic. On Tuesday. 
December 14. .Mr. Rotch, the owner of the Ship "Dartmouth." 
accompaniefl by Samuel Adams, Benjamin Kent and eight 
others, applied to the Collector of the Port for a clearance. 
The Collector promised to give an answer the next day. after 
he had consulted with the Comptroller. The next day Mr. 
Rotch, with the Committee, again went to the Custom House, 
and the Collector and Comptroller were both present. Mr. 
Rotch stated that he was compelled by the meeting to demand 
a clearance for his vessel for I.ondon. This, the Collector em- 
phatically refused to do imtil the tea was discharged. The 
next day, December ifi, 1773, will forever be memorable in 
the Annals of Boston. The twenty days for a clearance ex- 
pired that night. C)n the morrow the tea would be landed 
under the protection of British soldiers and under the suns 
of a British-man-of-war. Again, several thousand of the \K-n- 
l)le rallied in and around the "Old South ^Meeting House." 
It was an assembly of quiet, thoughtful, but very determined 
men. who. with anxious faces, awaited the outcome of the 
meeting. The Committee reported the decision of the Col- 
lector. ]Mr. Rotch was directed to enter a protest at the 
Custom House, and to apply to the Governor for a pass to 
proceed at once with his vessel on its voyage to London. The 
meeting waited to learn the result of Rotch's conference with 
the Governor. The Governcir tvit-d to ciini]irnmise with Rotch. 



K-'' Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

but without a\ail, for Mr, l\ntch did not \vi>h to incur tlie ill 
will of the people. He was a young" man onh' t\\ cntv-three 
years of age, and it must be admitted he was placed in a very 
hard position. lie was American born and came of an ex- 
cellent Ouaker faniil). lie pleaded that the compromise ])ni- 
posed would ruin him. and as he could not obtain either a 
clearance from the Collector or a pass from the ( lovernor for 
his ships, they would either l)e sunk by the Hritish batteries 
nr ca])tnred and confiscated under the revenue laws. Even- 
tually, as attairs turned out. he esca])ed loss, as the East India 
d>mpany paid him the freight due on the cargoes of tea trans- 
ported in hi-- shii)s. After the Revolutionary \\'ar, his ship, 
the '"llradford," was the first to display the American ftag on 
the river Thames. <iovernor Hutchinson sternlv refused to 
gi\e him a jiass and thus the last ddor of conciliation was 
cl..sed. 

When Mr. Rntch returned to the meeting and told the re- 
sult i)f his interview with the (riovernor. it was nearh' six 
o'cldck. "Darkness had set in, and the '(Jkl ."^outli," dimly 
lighted with candles, was still filled with an anxious and im- 
patient audience." "Who knows,"' said John Rowe, "how tea 
will mingle with salt water?" There was a cry and a hurrah, 
and some tumult among the people, but the leaders soon re- 
stored good order. Dr. Young addressed the meeting, after 
the decision of the ( iovernor was announced, and said, "that 
Mr. Rdtch was a gor)d man and had done all in his ])ower to 
gratify the people, and charged them to do no hurt to his 
person or his property." Samuel Adams then arose and ut- 
tered these memorable words: "This meeting can do nothing 
UKirc tn save the eoimtrv," This w'as a signal for action and 
tliere was a "war whodp" fruni the men at the church doors. 
I'riiin tlic gallery came a \nice : "I'.oston harbor a tea-pot to- 
night. Hurrah fur ( .riffin's Wharf!" The .\lnhawks with 
their hatchets were on h.ind reail\- to cut the i lordian knot." 

When order wa-- restored the jicople. lia\ing manifested 
great patience and camion, and having endeavored to preserve 
the property of the East India Company, and return it safe 
to its owners, then dispersed, giving three cheers as thev left 
the ( )ld South Meeting House. John Rowe, who gave the vast 
audience a hint of wliat might be expected, was a leading 
merchant and patriotic citizen of Boston. He was for many 
\ears a Selectman, ( )verseer of the Poor, and representative 
to the < leneral Court ;nid later, in Ianuar\ IJJM. was chosen 



Il'alk-s and talks About Historic Boston. i?7 

C'hairnian ul llif L'oniniittcc tu fix the price of iiic'rchan(li>c 
and bring to punishment all offenders against the Act, for- 
bidding monopoly and forestalling. He was a member of 
the First Lodge of Freemasons in Boston and Master of the 
Lodge in 174M and !'r(i\incial (n'and Master in \'JU2. Rowe's 




)/,/ Ihui.i^ II II. 



Wiiarf is named in JKinor (if lb!^ irur friend of his country. 
The Rowe Fstalc \v,is scild in 1S17 liv the heirs, to Judge 
William Prescott, and he lived there until his death in 1844. 
as did also his scm, \\"m. II. I're-Cdtt. the historian. The 
house was taken down in i.'^43. and the site is imw cnvered 
by the Bedford Street ^tcire (if the Jurdaii, .Marsh Company. 



i;."^ ir.ilks and UilLs Aboiil Uixtoric Boston. 

\\\- have already alludt-d to the (jrccn Dragon Tavern near 
the northerly corner of Hanover and L'nion Streets, as a fa- 
vorite meeting place of the patriots. The St. Andrews Lodge 
of Freemasons also met there and many of its leading mem- 
bers were active "Sons of Liliert\" and members also of the 
famous Tea Partw We have mentioned two points where the 
"Merchants" met and arranged themselves for their descent 
upon the tea ships. There was another important rendezvous 
wiiere the South End ?^[oha\vk■^ gathered, on the corner of 
llollis and Tremont Streets, and put on their feathers and 
war paint. In this vicinity lived John Crane, Joseph Levering 
and the Eradlees, also Cajitain Thomas I'.olter and Samuel 
Fenno. Young Levering afterwards used to tell how he held 
the light for Crane and other neighbors, as they disguised 
themselves in Crane's sho]i. 

I iritfin's Wharf, the i)oint aime<l at, wa^ directly opposite 
Hutchinson Street, now Pearl Street, j-'lounder Lane, a little 
foot path, under F'ort Hill, wound aroimd the margin of the 
water and entered Hutchinson Street near the wharf. This 
lane was afterwards widened and was cdled liroad Street, 
but is now a part of Atlantic .\venue. The laying out of 
liroad Street and consequent tilling in nearly obliterated Grif- 
tin"s W^harf. Its legitimate successor was Liverpool Wharf. 
Dne of the best, and probably most accurate accounts of the 
Boston Tea Party is that published in the Massachusetts Ga- 
zette, under date of December -\^. 177,1 : 

"Just before the dissolution of the meeting in the C^ld 
."^Miith Meeting House, a number of l.irave and resolute men, 
(he-scd in the Indian manner, ;i])])roached near the door of 
the Assembly, and gave a whar wlionp which rang through 
the house, and was answered b\ some in the galleries, but 
silence was commanded, and a ])eaceable deportment enjoined 
until the dissolution. The Indians, as the\ were then called, 
repaired tn the wharf where tlie shi|)s lay that had tile tea on 
Imard' and were follnwt-d 1)\ liiuiilreds of peoi)le to see the 
event of the transactions of thuse who made so grotesque an 
a|>pearance. The Indians immediatel\- repaired on board Cap- 
t.iin I I.'dl's sh.ip. when tluw lioisied out the chests of tea, and 
wlien (in deck stove them in wuh tlieir hatchets and emptied 
the tea overboard. lla\inL' cleared this ship, they proceeded 
to Capt. P>ruce"s. and then tci (aiitain Cotifin's. They applied 
themseh-es so dexterouslv to tile destruction of this com- 
niiidily. that in the space ni three liour- the\ broke up three 



Walks ami Talks About Historic Boston. i59 

liuiiilred anil fortv-two clir^t^. which was the whole minilier 
in those vessels, and (lisehari;eil their contents into the docks. 
When the tide rose it floated the broken chests and the tea ; 
insomuch that the surface of the water was filled therewith, a 
considerable wav from the South |)art of the Town to Dor- 
chester Neck and lodged un its shores." 

There was the greatest care taken to prevent the tea being- 
purloined by the populace; one nr two being detected in en- 
deavoring to pocket a small quantity were stripped of their 
ac(|nisitions and roughly handled. 

Horace E. Scudder in his most interesting book for boys, 
entitled, "Boston Town," in writing of the Tea Party says: 

■'There was one man in the crowd who thought it would be 
a tine thing to carry off some of the tea, so he went on board 
with the rest and slyly stufTed all he could inio his coat pock- 
ets and inside the lining. He was a Captain O'Connor of 
C'harlestown. One of the men who was at work destroying 
the tea saw him do this, and as the Captain was leaving the 
shi]i he sprang forward and caught him. O'Connor made a 
jump and left his coat tails behind him. Mr. Hewes cried 
out and let the people knmv what he had done, and as the 
Captain tried to get awav from the wharf, everybody in his 
neighborhood helped him on with a kick, .md the next da\' 
Captain ( VConnor's coa.t toils were nailed tn the whipping 
po--t in Charlestown," 

It is worthy of remark that although a considerable quan- 
tity of goods were still reiuaining on board the vessels, no 
injury was sustained. Such attention to pri\ate property was 
oliserved that a small ])adIock belonL;ing to the captain of one 
of the ships being broken another was procured and sent tc 
him. The town was very quiet during the whole evening, and 
the night following. Those who were from the country went 
home with a merry heart, and the next ilay joy appeared on 
almost every countenance, >onie on .■iccoiiiU of the destruction 
of the tea, others on accoiini of tlir (|uietness with which it 
was effected. ( )ne of the Monday's papers says: "The 
masters and owners are well plcised that the ships were thus 
released." The value of the te.i was £18,000 ($90,000). The 
night was clear : the moon shone brilliantly. 

"It was not the deed of a lawless mob, but the well consid- 
ered act of intelligent and determined men. ( )ne of the par- 
ticipants, (',. R. T. llewes. w Im-e portrait is in the Old ."^tate 
House o\er the Rei;istry Desk. publishe(l a little volume in 



K'O JJ'alks ami Tnllcs Ahoitt Historic Boston. 

1835 in which he !^i\(.-^ ;i miniliri' of incidents connecteil with 
the event. He say^: "The ih^mii^e oi the Indians was hastily 
[prepared. Many arraxcd thrin--el\c^ in a store on l-'ort Hill. 
The original nnmher wa-- til'tecn or twt'ntw Alanv others dis- 
guised theni^ehes a> liest tlu\ cunld and ii lined the parts. 
While the crowd was rusliini; dnwii Milk .Street to ( iriftin's 
Wharf, Hewes himself made liis \\a\ tn a hlacksmith's shi pp 
on Boylston ^\'harf where he hastily lie,L;rime(.l his face with 
suitable preparation, thence to the Imuse of an acquaintance 
near (iriffin's Wharf, where he .L;iit a blanket to wrap around 
his person." Hewes' whistling;" talent, for which he was some- 
what famijus aniun;^ his aciiuainta.nces. procured him the posi- 
tiiin (if bn.atswain in tlie )iart\- under I'aptain Lendall Pitts, 
which Ima.rded the brii;. 

The r.ritish .S(|nadniii hiv in the stream less than a ([uarter 
iif a mile ilistant and its utficers witnessed the whole proceed- 
iuii's. "Admiral .Montague was on sliore at the time in the 
house of a Tory named Coffin, on Atkinson (Congress) 
Street. .\s the party returning ]iassed Coffin's house, the Ad- 
miral saw them, and opening the winddw said. "Well, bovs, 
you have had a fine, pleasant evening for \(iiir Indian caper, 
haven't you? I'.ut. mind, von have got to ]ia\- the fiddler vet." 
"( >. never mind," shouted l.end.ill I'itts. "never mind, .Squire. 
Just come out here, if \nu ple,is(.'. .and we will settle the bill 
in two nfinutes." This caused .a shout, the fife struck up a 
li\ely tune, the Adnnral shut the windiiw in a hurrv. and the 
ciinipan\- marched cm." 

I'.arly on the mdrning nf tlu' 17th. there was a li:ing win- 
ri iw .if the tea extending frimi tlie wh.arws dnwn ti 1 the 
castle. \\'ith a I'.ritisji siniadrmi less than a (|iiarter ni a 
mile away, it seems -trange that tlie party was not inter- 
ru|)ted. \'ery serinu- truulile w.is dcnditless expected. It 
may be that the authi irities. the nwners nf the vessels, and 
the consignees were ,L;lad tn lie extricated in this was' from 
a seriotis clilemma. A funrth tea ship w ,as w'-ecked on Cape 
Cod. A few chests of tea s.axed frcim the wreck were stored 
at the Castle, bv unler nf (Idxernur Hutchinson. Paul 
Revere carried the accmmt nf this destructinn cii the te.a to 
New' "N'lirkand I 'hiladelphi.i and the I '.1 ist. .ni.ms were higliK' 
ext.illed, 

jcihn Sci ill,i\-. Chairm.in nf the I'.n.ird nf Selectmen .if 
I'Mistiin, \\ ri ite : 'A\ e di 1 ccin-nle 'iiirseKes that we ha\e 
acted constitnlionalK . " Ihe mci^t m.ignificent moxement 



Walks (111(1 J'dlks .Ihoiit Histor'n- Husloii. i'" 

of all," wrcitc Jiilin A(laiii> in his (liar\ . 'I'lu-ri' is a dii^nilv . 
a majesty, a s(jlciiinit_v "f this last etTort <if tin- patriuts that 
I greatly admire. The destruction of the tea is so hold, s<i 
daring, so firm, so intrepid and inflexihle that it must ha\e 
important ciiiisei|uences, and so lasting that I cannot hut 
consider it an epoch in history. The question is whetiu-r 
the destruction of the tea was necessary? I a[)prehend 
that it was absolutely and indispensably so. To let it be 
landed would be giving up the principle of taxatitm by 
Parlianiontar\- autliority against which the continent has 
struggled for ten }ears." 

The historian Ramsa\' ba\s: "If the American ])osition 
was right in relation to taxation, the destruction of the tea 
was warranted b\ the great law of s(.-lf-preser\ation. P'or it 
was not possible for them by any other means within the 
compass of proli.-ibility to ihscharge the duty they ov\cd to 
their country." 

"It became." saiil Robert ( '. \\ inthrop. "a simple question 
which should go under — I'lritish tea <ir American liberty? 
That volunteer band of liberty boys performed their work 
better than they knew, averting contingencies which must 
have caused immediate bloodshed, and accomplishing results 
of the greatest iiuportance to the American cause." When 
the news reached England there was astonishment and indig- 
nation. In the heated debates in Parliament one tnember 
said : "The town of P>oston ought to be knocked about their 
heads and destroyed." Edmund P.urke made one of the 
greatest efforts of his life for the repeal of the tea tax. 

Colonel Barre told the House of Commons that if they 
would keep their hands out of the pockets of the Ameri- 
cans they would be obedient subjects. Johnston who had 
been Governor of Florida, pi-eihcted that the exporting of 
tea bv the East India C'onqiruiy was .absurd and would end 
in loss, and that if the proposed Boston Port Bill was 
)>assed, the residt wfndd be a general confederacy to resist 
the power of Britain and end in general revolt." 

THE DAGGETT IlOC-^E. 

This house stood on the corner of Tremont and Hollis 
.Streets. ( )n the 17th of March, iQOi, "The Boston Tea 
Party Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- 
tion" placed a bronze talilet on the building on the corner 



i6- Walks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

of Tri'iiKint and llullis Strcfts, Ix-arini;- the folkiwiny- in- 
scription, viz : 

( )n this v])(it stuod the house in -which Nathaniel. 
l)a\id, Thiunas and Josiah liradlcy, with James 
l-uhi'ii, a--^isted hy Sarah llradlev Fultun, dis- 
L;ni^ed thenisrhes as Alnhawk ln(Uan>, and tunk 
|)art in thvdw in;^ the tea inln i'.oston llarhur. 
i)eceniliei- Id, 177;. 





1 Inrrali for ( iriliins W harf- 




The .Ml 'hawks are cumin: 


Tile mend) 


er-^ <if the iMi-tmi d"ea I'arty 


men. The 


]>n>i'(nind secrecy in which 



'artv were no ordinary 
hicii they held their 
names, and the tutal ahstinence fr^m i>lnnder, show clearly 
the character of the men. We ha\e alieadx -een that John 
Hancoek and I'aul ]\e\ere were anidn^; the nundier. Twu 
other great leaders ol the jiecjide. William .Mnlinenx and 
Dr. Young, were also members of that band, Many of 
them were mechanics and apprentices, but they were me- 
chanics (if the Stamp of Howard, \\ heeler. Crane and I'eck. 
who Cduld restrain in due subordinatinn the more fiery and 
dangerous element, always jjresent in popular demonstr.a- 
tions. 

There were prufessicmal men like 1 )r. Story, and me:- 
chants. such as Proctor. Melville. 1 'aimer. May. Pitts ,ind 
Da\is ; men of high character an<l standing so that all 
classes were fairly represent(.'d. The\ were largel}' men of 
faniilv and position in Rosion. Two lists of the members 
of that part\ lia\ e lieen gi\en ti ■ the wurlil. The first was 
publi>hed in [■'^^.t bv an .aged llustunian who was wel! ii.- 
formcd on the subject. 'Idle --eciind list is derived princi- 
pallv from faniih- traditimis. W C find the average age of 
66 members to be 27 years, and ^J 1 if the 36 are knriwn to 
have served in the Revohitonary Army. 

Did space permit, a little sketch (if many of the members 
of the part\' wmild be interesting reading. Tlu're was J(3hn 
Crane, (dldnel uf the .\Ia^--,iclui>ett> Regiment uf .\rtillcry 
in the Continent.d .\rniy. .a nidst able officer. .Seth Tnger- 
soU r.riiwn (if (,'ambrid.L;e. wliu afterwards fuught at Hunker 
Hill and who never forgot the cry that went up from his 
comrades in that fight uf ".\'o ammunition — no ammuni- 
tion." Tie was a tavern keeper after the war and was land- 
lord of a Ta\crii in Wings" T.aiie. FJm Street. He was 



Il'alks and TalLs Aboiil Ilisloiic Boston. I'n 

a good singer, mu- df Iiis favorite si.ings was reganlins;- tlie 
Battle of Bunker Hill 

"We niarelieil duw ii to Charlcstown ferry 
And there we hail a battle: 
The shot it tlew, like pepper and salt, 
And made the <ild town rattle." 

The I'.radlees, l)a\id, Tlicnnas and X'athan, li\ed on the 
southerly corner of Ilollis and Treniont Streets. Their 
sister, Mrs. h'ulton. helped tn disguise them, and followed 
them to the wharf. They were in tiie fight at Bunker Hill. 
Samuel I'enmi, a .^duth End hoy, patriotic and courageous, 
who made a \o\\ ne\er to drink tea. which he kept to the 
day of his death. Samuel (love, his father, was a Tory, who 
sailed away with the British. March 17, 177*1. Samuel was 
one of the youngest members of that party, being but 15 
years of age. lie was one of the Boston school boys who, 
at noonday and under the exes of the British guard, car- 
rif'd oft' and secreted the cannon from the gun house on the 
corner of Tremont and \\'est .Streets. Thomas Mackin. a 
native of .Staiifordshire, England. lie was wounded at 
Bunker Hill wdiilc serving as Lieutenant of Artillery. He 
was a fine engineer and .assisted in la\ing out the works 
of the American Arnu' at N'orktown. 

Major Thomas .\lel\ille was a member of the "Long 
Room Club." lie was at Bunker Hill and was selected by 
Gen. Warren as one of his aids, lie had command of a 
batter\- at Xantaskct .it the time the llritish evacuated 
Boston, and discharged the first gun at the hostile ships 
as the_\- were sailing awaw After the war he was Naval 
Officer of the Port of I'.oston. William Molineux was a 
distinguished and jjatriotic merchant of Boston, and like 
Revere and Johonnot. he was of lluguenot descent. He 
died in 1774 and it was a great loss to the patriot cause. 
Jonathan Parker was a Roxbury farmer and a high Son of 
Liberty. He brought safely through the British lines the 
two cannon taken by .Samuel Go\e and his companions. 
Parker brou.^ht a load of hay to t'>wn and took home a load 
of mamire, which he ])iled on top of the guns in the biittom 
of the wagon. Lendall Pitts. — lie commanded the division 
that boarded the brig Beaver. The Pitts mansion, where 
the old patriots lined to gather, stood on the site of the 



I'M Walks aihl Titlhs .Ihoiil JUstorii- Boston. 

Huward Atlu-iH-um. Viti^ Street perpetuates the name <if 
this nuteil family. I'diir memliers nl' tlii^ famil\- are prcun- 
inently assuciateil with the I',, istmi I'ea Tarty. It was 
Captain Pitts who had the colloquy with the British ad- 
miral as his di\'ision was returning from their service. Xo 
one of their descendants bearing' the name is surviving in 
Boston. Capt. Henry Prentiss was born in Medfield and 
was the siin of Rev. Joshua Prentiss who, for forty-five 
years, was pastor of the ib>Ili<ton Church. Capt. Prentiss 
served in the Re\i>Iuti' inar\- Arm\- at Cambridge, L'.ng 
Island, and at Trent' jii. He and his brother, Appleton, were 
the first to introduce into Xew England the art of printing 
calico. He lived in a stone house at the head of Hanover 
Street. Colonel Edward Proctor was a prominent citizen 
and military ofificer of lioston. He commanded the guard 
on the "Dartmouth" on the night of November 2g, 1773. 
He was an imi)orter of West hulia goods at the sign of 
the "Schooner" on l-isli Street ;it the Xorth End. He 
served in the l\e\ohuionar\- W ar .-md wa-^ a member of the 
Committee of Correspondence and Safety. L'olonel Henry 
Purkett was 18 years of ,iL;r ;it the lime of his service in 
the Boston Tea Party, i-'.nlivting as .a soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary Army, he ser\ed the full term, was at Trenton 
and Prandywine and was a ."sergeant in L'ount Pulaskkis 
Cavalry. After the war he conducted a very successful 
business as a C(.i()|)er on .'^outh Street, joining a companv 
of caxalry after the war he went through all the grades to 
Colonel. A member of St. Andrews Royal Arch Chapter, 
this encomium \\a> passed upon him at his death bv his 
b'-other .Ma-~ons: "Cpri^lnness and exactness were promi- 
nent traits of his character, and uni\ei-sal lo\e and charit\- 
for all mankinil were sincerely e-\hibited in all his social 
intercourse, lie had tni<ips ,if frien.K. but it is n( .t known 
that he ever had an enemy." 

William Russell, on returning to his home on Temple 
street after the tea party. [<<nk off his shoes and carefuUv 
dusted them over the tire, in order that no tea should re- 
main, and saw every particle consumed. He served as 
Sergeant-Major and Adjutant in Craft's Artillery Regiment 
in the Rhode Island canifiaign. Afterwards he joined a 
privateer, was captured, ami kept in Mills Prison, Plv- 
mouth, England, for nearly three years, lie served later 
in anotlier privateer, was ag.ain taken prisoner and confined 



JI'itlL-s and Talks About Ilisloric Basfoii. i(>5 

in that hnrriblc prisnn ship the "Jrrsf)-." at Xcw Vdik. 
His privations and siiftL-rini;s caused his early death. 
Joseph Shed was a car|)enter h\- trade and worked upon 
Fanenil Mall during its rebuilding and enlargement. He 
was intimately associated with .Samuel Adams and other 
leading patriots, before and during the Revolutionary War. 
H's residence was on Milk Street, where the Equitable Life 
Insurance Company's Building now stands. In his house 
a number of persons belonging to the Tea Party arrayed 
themselves, December i6, 1773. Samuel Adams was a fre- 
quent visitor at his house and Shed's grandson lias the 
china punch Ixnvl out of which the old patriot drank when 
Independence was declared. .'>amuel Sprague. the father 
of the banker poet. Charles Sprague, was born in Hingham 
and was 20 years of age when he assisted in throwing the 
tea overboard. To disguise himself he climbed the roof 
of a low building, which had a stove pipe for a chimney, 
where he obtained a lot of soot and blacked his face. He 
li\eil in a two-stor\- wooden house. .\o. 3X ( )range (now 
\^'asliington I Street, directly opposite I'ine ."-Street. Gen- 
e'-al Ebenezer Stevens was a distinguished artillery officer 
in the Continental Army. When the Boston Port Bill went 
into operation he removed to Providence and he and John 
Crane were partners in the business of carpentering. He 
was made I'irst Lieutenant of Crane's Artillery Train and 
served through the Siege of Boston, was made Captain in 
Knox's Artillerv Regiment and took part in the Expedition 
to Canada. (.)n the surrender of Burgoyne he was ap- 
]5rinted Ueutenant-Cnlimel. and was jissigued to Colonel 
Laml)'s ReginieiU. taking part in Lafayette's operations iir 
\'irginia, and at \'orktown he commanded the artillery, 
a'ternating with I^amb and Carrington. After the war he 
became otie of the leading merchants of New York. Dr. 
Elisha Stor} during the Revolutionary War, was Surgeon 
in Colonel Little's Essex Regiment. He fought as a Vol- 
unteer at Lexington and also at Bunker Hill until obliged 
to remove a wounded friend \t, Winter Hill, where he 
spent the night caring for the whiukIimI Ik- was with 
Washington at I-ong Island, White Plains and Trenton. 
His oldest son. Joseph, became Associ.ite lustici- of the 
Supreme Cmu't of the Cnited States." 1 )r. .'story was a 
■"skillful ]ih\-ieian ;tuil :i man of great bene\nlence of heart." 
C.-ipt.-iin J.isi.ili Wheeler Ined in half .i donblr h.m-e \'o 



• ^■'> ll'alks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

,V*"' < )ran,t;e Strtct, liy the side i it Saniut'l SpraLjiie. lie 
cninmanded a cmiipany of "Minute Men'" at tlie openincj 
of the Revohitimi, most nf whom were skilled carpenters 
and joiners, and h\- W ashing'ton's order, he superintended 
the erection of the furts nn Dorchester Heights. He was 
emjiloyed in buililiuL; the present State House on lleacon 
Hill. Dr. Thomas >"iiung was a ni'ist conspiciu ms fig-nre 
in the early Revc iluti(inar\- niu\eemnts in I'xistnn. "He 
was the first President of the Xi^rth End Caucus." March 
5. 1771, he delivered the first uration comniemi irati\ e nf 
the Boston Massacre, at the Manufacturing llnusc in llani- 
ilton Place. He was an army surgenn in 1776, and was after- 
wards a resident of Philadelpliia. ( 'f the Tea Party. ;il>'iui 
25 were Free Masons, and a large uunihei' were nu-niliers ,,i 
the Ancient and HVinorahle .\rtillcry Company. 



Tt* PAKTf T*BLtT. Boston, Wass. 




'Eiic Boston port Sill. 1774 

11k- .i^cncral (ipiKisitidii ui ihe luluiiics tu ihe ijrinci])lc uf 
■■taxation witlmut rc|iri.'M.-inati()n" had pfoved of great aiiiiov- 
aiK'c tu thu I'.ritisli ( Kivcninu'iU. 'I'lic lax on tea and the arl)i- 
trar\ nieasiii-es to enforce it liad lironght matters to a crisis 
in America. ( )ne sentiment and one determination ])ervad(.(l 
the Colonies. Ta.xation \va^ to receive its decisi\e hlow. 
"Whoever snlmiitted to it was an enemy to his country." We 
have ah-eady noted the bold action of the patriots in the Ijos- 
ton Tea Party. It was done so orderly and so systematically 
tliat llis ^lajesty's ministers and the liritish Parliament saw 
that it was not the rash and inteni])erale proceeding of a mob, 
lint the resolute, well ccln^idere(l act of sober reflecting citi- 
zens, for those engaged in the work dispersed quietly to theii 
homes without tumult. When the news of the Boston Tea 
Party reached England, early in 1774. King George sent a 
message to Parliament asking that body to devise means for 
the immediate snp])ression of tumultuous ])roccedings in the 
t_'olonies. The House of C'ommons re|ilied that he should be 
sustained in efforts to maintain order in .\nierica. Angry 
debates followed. I'.urke say>: "'rhat the House of t'ommous 
became as hot as banenil Mall or the Old South Meeting 
House." The Ministerial I'artx said: ■■There is open reliellion 
in .\nierica and it must be punished." The opposition replied: 
■■Repeal _\-our unjust laws and deal lighteously with the 
Americans and there will be peace .and loyalty there." r>ut 
the House adopted the Resolutions pledging its support to the 
King and his ministers by an overwhelming vote. With such 
an endorsement lioth the King and his subservient tool. I^ord 
North, determined to severely punish Poston, and the I'.oston 
Port Pill was submitted and passed. It provided for the re- 
moval of the Custom House. Courts of Justice and ( iovern- 
ment officers of all kinds from Poston to S.dem : all lading 
and unlading of goods, wares and merchandise were to cease 
in the town and liarbor of Poston, on and after the 4th of 
Inne. It also provided that when the rebellious town should 
"fulU and hunilip submit to royal authorit\ the King shouM 



i68 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

have the power to open the port and restore the Goveninicnt 
business. "Xorth justified the measure by asserting that Bos- 
ton was the ringleader in ever)' riot and always set the ex- 
ample which others followed." "He believed severe punish- 
ment would strike terror throughout the Colonies and so 
bring the Americans in subjection to the Crown." .Another 
member of the House said: "Bo.stonian^ ought to have their 
town knocked about their ears and they ought to be de- 
stroyed." Rurke boldly told them: "The bill is unjust since 
it bears upon the city of Boston, while it is notorious that all 
-America is in flames. You are contending for a matter which 
the Bostonians will not give up quietly." But all the iiersua- 
sions and warnings fell on deaf and prejudiced ears tor the 
Boston Port Bill became a law. The King signed it on the 
31st of March 1774. One historian says: "It was the fatal 
knife of vivisection that severed the American people from 
their unnatural mother. The wound was made non-healable 
from the searing given it by the unrighteous acts which fol- 
lowed." The success attending his efforts in Parliament with 
the Boston Port Bill, emboldened Lord North to introduce 
other oppressive measures and soon followed a l)ill for better 
regulating the government of Massachusetts J!av. which, in 
all its provisions was an attempt to subvert the Charter of 
Massachusetts, and a declaration of war upon the rights of the 
people of the province. This bill also passed both Houses 
of Parliament. Full of arrogance and hatred, he gave a third 
turn to his engine uf oppression, and this was a bill providing 
for a trial in iMiglaml of all persons charged in the Colonies 
with murders committed in support of government. It was 
intended as a guaranty of comparative safety to those who 
might shoot or bayonet "rebels" in the name of the King^ 
Colonel Barre denounced it "as the most extraorrlinarv reso- 
lution ever heard in the Parliament of England. It offers 
new encouragement to military insolence already so insup- 
portable. Americans are deprived of a right which belongs 
to every human creature, that of demanding justice before a 
tribunal of impartial judges," King George knew that sikIi 
arbitrarv measures would have to be enforced by the mili- 
tarv arm, so a fourth bill was passed providing for the 
f|uartering of troops in America. The Boston Port Bill 
leached I'.oston early in May 1774. Just a few days pre- 
vious. Governor Hutchinson w;i-^ ^^uiierseded by General 
( iage, as Governor of Massachiisftt--. riic Son^ of Libert v 



Il'alhs and JulLs .Ihoiil Hislorir Hustmi. i"" 

in \e\\ ^'(l^k >ciii ilu-ir ^\ inpatlu to llnstoii and (.-ntreated 
her patriots to stand firni in their support of these opposi- 
tion measures. All the Colonies saw, in the Boston Port 
iiill, the dangers foreshadowed to their liberties. New 
York suggested a General Congress of the Colonies, and it 
was approved by all. So originated the famous First Con- 
tinental Congress, which convened in 1774. General Gage 
on his arri\al in ISoston. was most courteously received by 
the citizens of lioston. and a militia company, commanded 
by John Hancock escorted him to the State House. Gen- 
eral Gage thought that reconciliation was near at hand, and 
the people were ready to submit. But his hopes must have 
been dispelled the next morning when he learned that dur- 
ing the night an effigy of Hutchinson had been hung in 
front of Hancock's house. The next dav after the arrival 
of the Act, a town meeting of the citizens was called for a 
conference nf citizens and of the Committees of nine towns 
on "the critical state of public aiifairs," and Samuel Adams 
presided at the meeting. The cause of Boston became the 
cause of all the colonies. From the forum and the pulpit 
and in the columns of the newspapers, the Port I'.ill wa> 
denounced. At meridian on June 14. 1774, the pnrt wa> 
closed. The church liells in Philadelphia and elsewhere 
were muftled and tolled a funeral knell. "The law was rig- 
idly enforced. Not a vessel of any kind was allovired to be 
used in the harbor. Not a pound of hay, not a sheep or a 
calf could be brought in from the islands ; not a stick of 
timber or package of merchandise could be taken bv water 
from wharf to wharf. Not a parcel of goods could be fer- 
ried across the Charles. Business of all kinds was immedi- 
ately and completely paralyzed. A cordon of war vessels 
enclosed the town and the arrival of several regiments 
made Boston an immense garrison." The British ministry 
authorized ( lage to order his soldiers to shoot down citizens 
who should not be docile, and all officers and soldiers guillv 
of homicide in America were to be taken to England for trial 
as by the law to which we have already referred. Geneial 
Gage had orders to arrest when he should deem ])rudent 
to do so, Samuel Adams. John Hancock, and Dr. Joseph 
Warren and send them to F.ngland to be tried for treason. 
.Adams knew this and with the halter about his neck he said 
of his beloved and stricken Boston: "She sufYers with dignity, 
and rather than -submit tn the huniiliatini;- terms of an edict. 



I70 Hulks aiid I'alks About Historic Boston. 

barllar(_)ll^ l)ey()nil i)rfccik-in umler the most absolute nionarcln 
slie will put the malice of tyranny to the severest test. An 
eni])irc i> risintj; in America and Britain by her multiplied 
opliressions. is achievinj; that independency which she dreads. 
\\ e have a post to maintain to desert which wmild entail 
u]>on us the curses of posterity." The utter prostratirin of 
business in Boston produced widespread suffering and it af- 
fected all classes, but they had faith that deliverance would 
cciUie and thev endured the severe chastisement with ei|u.i- 
nimitw "The wharves of Boston were deserted, her ware- 
houses closed and grass was growing' in her streets. Her onto 
wealthv citizens were reduced to ]30verty, and there was no 
emiiloxnient for the poor, but the spirit of her peo]ile was 
undaunted. The\ were cool, shrewd and sensible, equal to 
the emergency, and in the game of dijilomacy were more than 
a ni.itch for ( ieneral ' lage. the British Commander. They 
kept the town meetings ali\e indefinitely, meeting in Faneuil 
li.ill. and frcim thence adjourning to the Old South Meeting 
Ibiusi'. There were sol<iiers at every turn, and cannon so 
pl.iced as to menace their lives and property. Xo rash or 
fooh-h acts marred the dignity of their fortitude." b'ood w:is 
sent from the outside to the suffering poor. 

The generou-^ citizen- of the South sent them rice, with 
words \,{ cheer and eucour.igemeut. The Northern Col- 
onies scut them grain ami --heep and lieeves and money. 
l-Aen the City of London, in its corpiirate cajiacity. sent 
them three-quarters of a million of d. .liars for the relief of 
the poor of Boston. The ]ieo|.le of .Marblehead and Salem 
offered the free use of their whar\ es .and stores lo the mer- 
chants of Bosti>n, for the\ scorned to profit by the misfor- 
tunes of their neighbors. ( u-ner.il Cage, although 1)acked 
b\ British liayonets, did not dare to m.ake use of them ex- 
cept in an extremit_\ . The filming procl.im.ations which 
he issued from time to time excited the ridicule of the 
]iatriots. He was more ]iu/,zled by the for1ie,ir;ince of the 
people than bv their defiance. The air wa- fidl of the spirit 
of insurrection, yet no one ciimmitted overt acts ol treason. 
There were handbills and newsp:i]iers of an inllamanUory na- 
ture, but all within the confines of the law. Several times 
he was on tlie |ioint of arresting Hancock and Adams, but 
such an act might have cost him his life. Late in the sum- 
mer he erecteii fortifications across Roxbury Xeck. This 



JFalks and ialks About Historic Boston. '7' 

aroused the imli^nation of the people, who foresaw their al)- 
solute enslavement. "The Boston carpenters, although suf- 
fering from enforced idleness woidd not work on these forti- 
fications at any price. J le heard that there was gun-powder at 
Charlestown an<l Cambridge, belonging to the province 
and sent out iroups t<"> seize it. and the indignation of the 
people rose to fe\cr heat." 

A few da\s later a rumur went thr<jugh the I'mxince 
that war had begun in I'.i'stitn. and that the King's troops 
were murdering the citizens. In thirty-six hours the whole 
countrv ni two hundred miles had the news, and the 
Minute Men seized their arms and started for Boston. If 
General Gage had been a wise man, he would have paused, and 
heeded such an object lesson. But he broke up the eight 
military companies in the town, composed of patriots, and 
dismissed John Hancock from the command of the Inde- 
pendent Corps of Cadets. That bod\-. indignant at the 
treatment of their belo\ ed ( ■ommainler, sent a committee 
to General Gage at Salem, ■-urrenilered the flag which he 
had presented to the Coi-])s, ,uid notifuil him that they had 
disbanded themselves. ,Gage, whu was never diplomatic 
or conciliatorv when facing the irritated citizens, com- 
l"iletclv lost his teni|ier and ber.nted the committee soundly. 

C)u the r'lth of (^Jctober the Continental Congress passed the 
following resolution : — 

"Resolved. That tlii> Cc.ngre-- ,ip|)ni\e the r)ppiisiti(in 
of the inhabitant-^ of M av-aclnisetts l'.,iy to the l'',xecutinn 
of the late Acts . .f I'arli.-inient. and if the ^ame shall be 
attempted t<< be cirried into execution by force in such 
case, all America nught t'l Mipjinrt tlu-ni in their i.p|Hisi- 
tion." 

"That resolution was like the luminous writing on the 
wall warning Belshazzar of impending danger." But stub- 
born and vindictive King George was blind and deaf and 
this Resolution goaded him to an insane frenzy, and he 
proclaimed his American subjects, "rebels." King George ex- 
pressed his ultimatum with bitter emphasis and scorn, in these 
wuriN: "The Xew luiyland Ljdvernments are now in a state of 



'7i Walks ami J alks .Ihoiit llistorii Boston. 

rebellion. lUows must decide whetlier they are to he suhiect 
to this country or to he independent." 

At a session of Parliament held January 20, 1775, Ben- 
jamin Franklin was present by invitation of Lord 
Chatham, -who, taking him by the arm, introduced him to 
the ddcirkeepers, saying as he did so. "This is Dr. Frank- 
lin, whom 1 wiiuld have admitted to the house." During 
the sessiiiii. Lord Chatham, leaning ujion his crutch, in a 
clear voice proposed an aildress to the King, asking him 
to immediately desjjatch to General Gage an order to re- 
mo\c his forces from Boston as soon as the rigors of the 
season would ])erniit. "I wish, my lords." .said Chatham, 
"not to lose a day in this urgent crisis. An hour now lost 
may produce years of calamity. I contend not for indul- 
gence, Init justice to America. The spirit which now re- 
sists your taxation in America is the same which formerlv 
opposed wars, benevolence and ship money in England; 
the same which established the essential maxim of vour 
liberties, that no subject of England shall be taxed but by 
his own ciinsent." 

In concluding his great S])eech, this noble plea for jus- 
lice in dealing with America, he paid a high compliment to 
the wisdom and discretion of the Continental Congress, 
which is a com])lcte refutation of some of these latter dav 
"loyalists" who have tried to smirch the character of the 
leading ])atriots of Boston, and to belittle the intelligence 
of the American people, lie s.aid : "When ^'ou^ lordships 
look at the papers transmitted to us from .\merica, when 
you consider the decency, firmness and wisdoni. vou can- 
not but respect their coin-se and wish to make it ^•our own. 
l'"or myself, I must .uciw, that in all my reading, — and I 
have read Eucydides, and have studied and admired the 
master States of the world — for solidity of reasons, force 
of sagacity and wisdom of conclusion, under a coni])lica- 
tion of ditTerent circumstances. n(T nation, or liod\ of men. 
c.in stanil in preference to the ( jeni-ral Congress at I'hil.i- 
-l.-lphia. 

"The histories of (ireece and Rome gi\e nothing e(|ual tcj 
it : and all attempts to impose scr\itude upon such a 
mighty continental nation must be vain — must be fatal. 
We shall be forced, ultimatelw to retreat; let us retreat 
while \ve can: ni't when we must. 'idiese violent acts 



Walks aiul Talks .Ihoiil Historic Hosloii. i;.i 

must be ri.-i)cali-il ; ym will ri]ic-al tlieni. 1 pledge inxself 
for il. I >t.ikc my re|iutati<in (in il. \\>u will in the end 
repeal llieni. A\'ii(l, then, this hniniliating- neccssit\ . 

"W ith a dignity beeuniing \our exalted station, make the 
tn-st acKance to concurd. peace and happiness, for that is 
your trne dignity. Concession comes with better grace 
Irnm >u])erior power, and establishes solid confidence in 
the foundations of afi'ection .and gratitude. Be the first 
to spare: throw down tin- wt-apons in ymir hands. 

In conclusion, my lords, if the ministers thus persevere 
in misadvising and misleading the Kin.g, 1 will not say 
they can alienate the afiections of hi> sulijects from his 
crown : but 1 will ;iHirm. they will make the crown not 
worih his wearing, i will not say that the King is be- 
trayed, but 1 will pronounce that the Kingdom is undone." 
This bold speech aroused the King to great anger and ex- 
pressed his desire for the arrival of the day "when decrepi- 
tude, or old age sl'Ould put an eml to Chatham, as a trum- 
]>et of sedition." 

"All thr(jugh March and April. 1775. Bijston was a caul- 
dron of intense feeling. Cage had l)een irresolute and 
timid, but now he resolved to nip rebellion in the Inid, and 
]iroposc<l to seize John Hancock ;ind S;imuel Adams, as 
arch traitors, and send them to I''ngi;m(l, for trial on a 
ch.argc of treason, also to send out troops t>i (Uncord and 
other ])laces and seize all the munitions of w.ir which the 
]ieople had gathered and lie fi.xed upon the night of .\|>ril 
18th as the time for carrying his plans into execution." 
The secret leaked out and when the i8th of April came, 
the patriots watched everv movement of the r.ritish troops 
with the keenest interest. T.ord T'ercw who was one of 
(jage's confidants, heard a .grou]) of citizens conversing as 
he was crossing the Common and one of them said, "the 
British will miss their mark." "What mark?" said I'ercy. 
"The cannon at Concord." was the rejily. Percy at once 
informed Ceneral Gage, who imniedi.ately issued orders 
to his guards not to allow an\ une t(i leave the city that 
night. It was Xm, late. William l)awcs li.-ul gone oxer the 
Neck to T\oxbur\- with a message fi'Min W'.irren to llancock 
and Adams, and W'.irren and l\e\i're xxere .at C'harlestown 
awaiting the dexelupmeni (if exents. l\e\ere had engaged 



174 JJ'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

his friend Xcwnian, ^cxtin of the North ( Christ ) Church 
to give him a timely -^i;_;■n:lh Jie said tei his friend: — 

"If the British march 
By land, or sea, from the town tonight, 
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch 
Of the North Church tower, as a signal light. 
One, if by land, and two, if by sea. 
And I, on tlie (ippii'^ile shcire will lie 
Ready to ride and spread the alarm. 
Through e\iTy Middlesex \-illage and farm. 
For the oiuntrx- folk to l)c uji anil to arm'" 

And tlui'- was ushered in that "glorii ai^ nii Tn at I.cx- 
insjti m." 




Till Miinil, M,i,i Shihi, „i, hr.riniili)H Von 



■Ry the rude bridge that arched the flood. 

Their tlat^ to April's breeze unfurled. 
Here once the embattled farmers stiM'd 

And tired the shot heard 'round the world.'" 

Ral[)h Waldo Emerson 



trtinston anD CiEoncort) 
april U\ I77.i 

Previous to the Ijattlc nf Lexington the Patriots saw that 
it was their paramount duty to provide an organized niih- 
tary force in defence of their riglits and property. Two 
months previous to the battle, there was a thorough mih- 
tary organization of the Province. The company of "^lin- 
ute Men" in each town was made up of vohmteers from its 
able bodied men. and these companies were well rh-illed. 
Massachusetts had I5.(hx) men read}' for the onset. Dr. 
A\'arren saw that a conflict was inevitable in the innnediate 
future and he advised .^amuel Adams and John 1 lancock not 
to return to Pioston, but to remain in Lexington. (General 
(iage had received imperative orders from Lngland to seize 
the two men and Iiold them as traitors. 

The object of the expedition to Concord \va> not (jnly to 
destroy supplies belonging to the Patriots, but to take these 
two men, but the midnight ride of Paul l\e\fre thwarted 
the plan of the British (ieneral. A large amount of military 
supiilies had been accumulating in CVincord. There were 
21,549 lirearnis, 17441 pounds of powder, 22191 pounds of 
musket balls, and i^^.tyjq flints. I5,0(X> canteens, i 100 tents. 
irxTo iron sijup pots. .\ large supph" of wheelbarrows, pick 
a.xes, axes, spades, etc. < )t commissar)- sup|ilies tlie\- had a 
large amount of flour, rice, salt beef, salt fish and molasses, 
and many cannon of various sizes. As can readilv be seen 
the destruction of these sui>plies would have been a serious 
loss to the patriots. There was also cpiite an accumulation 
of stores at Worcester, ("ieneral Gage had his spies out in 
various directions to ascertain the amount and li.cation of 
supplies and tij report as to tlie best method of seizing them. 
One of them, a P)ritisli soldiei' 22 years of ;ii;e said: "The 
General asked what I thought of destroying the stores at 
Concord, oidy 18 miles. I stated that 1 tliought 5(10 
mounted men might go to Concord in the night and de- 
stroy the stores and return safe, but to go with iih)o foot 
to destroy the stores the country would he al;irmed. and the 



H'alks and Talks .Ihoitt Historic Boston. i;7 

gTfater part ul ilicm \\(jii1(1 \>v l^illrd • >r lakcii." Tlic icmiIi 
])roved the suuiuliu-ss nf his juil^inriit. 'I'lu- iiiylit of A])ril 
i8th was clear anil just as thr iiKinn was rising; tlic llritish 
troops bound for Lcxin^ti m were lamliny al 1 .echnu-rr 
Point. Cambrid|n'e. I'.m i\evrrr was ahead of them and on a 
swift and powerful hdi'st- wa-- s]>iedinL;' towari.ls Lexington. 
At Charlestown .Xeck, he was almost captured b\- llritish 
officers, but escaped by tin-ninu; back towards CharU-stown. 
and taking tlie Medfonl r<>;i<l. lie reached Clark's house 
in Lexington. ,i little .after midnight, a'nd hurriedly incpnied 




feir .Mr. Hancock of Sergeant .Mnnror. who w itii eight men 
were guarding the house. "'hon't make si, much noise." 
said the Sergeant, "the famil\ ha\c just retiiiMk and I am 
directed not to allow them to l>e disttulied b\ an\ noise." 
"Noise," exclaimed Revere, "miu will ha\e noise enough 
before long. The Regulai's are coming out." lie knocki-d 
on the door, and Mr. Clark, the owner of the house iniptired, 
"Who is there?" Revere' .answcreik "1 want to see .Mr. 
Hancock." Hancock, who was m l>ed. but not asleep, recog- 
nized the voice of the messenger, and called out. "L'onie in. 
Revere, we are not afraid of you." When the\ heard the 
story of the impending danger the whole house was astir. 
Mr. Dawes, another messenger of the Conunittee of -Safety, 
who took the route to Lexington, via Roxbury. arrived anil 
confirmed Revere's statement. Ailvr a lii-ht refreshment. 



17^ ll'olks and I ,ilh's .Ihinil Historic Boston. 

Revere and J )a\\es slarteil lUr (/oiu-i ird, warning the in- 
liabitants by tlie way. as Rexei'e had done lietwcen Aledfurd 
and Lexingt'in. riiey wert- oxei'taken l>v Dr. .Sanuiel I'res- 
e(itt, whi) liail been wuding a ynimq- hidy in Lexingti Jti, and 
he jnined them in their jiatriotie ei'i-.and. Tliev had g(ine 
lull a shiirt distance when l\e\ere .and I);iwes weix' snr- 
|-iiuniled b\ Miini- I'.ntish nttleers, and captnred. Prescott 
dasliecl over a stnne wall i m his active horse, tluis eluding 
c,i])ture. and pnshed on to C oncord. where he ga\'e the 
alarm at two o'clock on the morning- of April ic). The 
liritish c)fficers (|nesti"ned l\e\ere and Dawes, but received 
only evasive_ answers. While thev were threatening the 
jirisoners, a church bell was heard to ring and then another, 
and one of the prisoners s.aid to them: "The bells are ring- 
ing, the to\\n is alarmed — yon are de.ad men." The officers 
tC)ok fright, left their prisoners and lied post haste to R.oston. 

The alarm aroused the "Minute ,\len" wdio seized their 
guns anil at two o'clnclc in the nioruiug they assend)led in 
front of the meetinghouse, where tlie\' loaded their guns 
with powiler and ball. The roll was called bv brave Captain 
John I'arker and se\eut\ -fne ]):Uriots responded "Here." 
As the air was chilly, and the inwaders had not vet appeared, 
the men adjom-ned ti> the shelt<-r of the meetinghouse. 
I olontl Smith, the counn.ander of the I'.ritish force was a 
prudent man. anil noting the uprising of the people, and 
listening tn the alarm bells, he des|i.atched a messenger to 
I'.oston for reiufia'cemeiits. Al.aior I'itcairn was ordered to 
push rapidly on throu-h I.exiu-lon, and seize the bi'id.qe at 
< uncord. He seized and hekl iwerN m.an wdii lUi he met on his 
route. Just ,al dawn, he and his I'edcoats came in sight of the 
patiaots dr.awn up on Lexington ( Omniou. The\- h.alted and 
loaded their muskets. <:i]il.ini I'.irkei- had instructed his men 
not to hi'e unless tired n]ion, but he s;ud "if the\- w.ant to h.ave 
a war, let it liegiu hei-e." There was no waxi'ring in th.al little 
patri(]t b,-ind, as they were to meet the Ncterans of man\' bat- 
tlelielils. "I'itcairn and onie (jf his otficers g.alloped f(jrward. 
w.iMUg their swm-ds oxei- their heads, the troops rushing after 
them on the "double i|uick." "Disperse, you villains! Lav 
d'lwn your ;irms. Why don't yoii disperse, vou rebels! Dis- 
perse !" s.aid the Af.ajor. 

The ".^rinute .Men" made no reply and held their ground, 
ritc.ii)-!!. wheeling his horse, .ind w.iviug his sword, shouted to 
his men. "I'l-ess forward! .'~^ui-i-iinnd the rascals." .Some of lite 



JJ'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. '7<) 

llritish .soldiers fired off random sIkjI^. owr llic heads of ihe 
Americans, hut witliout effect, fhe ".\limiir .Men" had scru- 
])les about firini;- uiUil tlieir own hliMnl had Keen spilled "I'it- 
cairn wa^ irritale(l h\' their suihliorn ohsiiiKicy. and drawiui^ 
hi-, pistol. dischari;ed il, and at the same monienl shouted to 
his soldiers, "fire I" .\ vollev from the front ranks followed 
the order with fatal effect, some .\mericans fell dead, or were 
mortally wounded, and others were liadly hurt. There was no 
further hesitation on the part of the ".Minnie .Men." "fhe 
conditions of their restraint, were fnltilled. fhe flood of iheir 
comrades had been shed, and :is the shrill life n| xduui.; fina- 
tlian llarrino'ton set the drum to fcitin.^;. the\ returned the fire 
with spirit but not wuh fatal efl'ect. 'file blood .u' .\mericau 
citizens stained the ,L;i"een i^rass du l.e\inL;lon I oiuuion, but m > 
r.ritish soldier lost his life in that memniable ccmllict. ('ap- 
laiii I'arker realizing;' that his liitle ])and w.as in daui^er (d lie- 
iui; overpowered and perhaps massacred by a .i;reatly superior 
force, ordered his men to disperse'. .Vs they did so the llritish 
Continued to fire, the .\niericaus returnecl the shot with spirit, 
and soui;"ht safel\- feliind stdue walK and buildings, fnnr of 
tile ".Minute .Men" were sl.ain f\ the firsi tire and four after- 
wards and ten were wduuded. ( )iil\ three of tile f.ritish were 
wounded, with fitcairu's horse, "fhe bells that r.iiiLi out on 
that warm .\pril moruiiiL;, the meri'ury markiiii^ Ss det^rees in 
the shade, at iiMon, tolled the kuell of liritish doniiuation in the 
thirteen colonies!" ( HldUel ."^mith came up with his delaeh- 
meut of troops and iniued I'iteairu, and after li,a\in^ L;iven 
three cheers in token of their \ictory. tluw starteil off for t'on- 
cord, in hi;.^h spirits and confident id' success. The news of the 
coullict on l.e\inL;lon spread with almost li^hliiin.L; s|)eefl 
ihrouiili tile t'lwn with the cr\ . "I'o arms I fo arms! tin- war 
has be,;; 1111 !" -\t Worcester the men left their f.irminL; 
impleuKTts in the fields, the citizens left their h mies, and 
the Minute ATen were soon on the march, and v\hat hap- 
pened at Worcester was re])eated at other towns. It showed 
the spirit and <letermination of the jicMjilr. I )r. Prescott 
reached Concord, twenty minutes .after he left l\e\-ere and 
Dawes. I le met .\mos .Melviii, the sentinel .It the ( onrt Ifnise 
;iuil told him the reL;ulars were couiiiiL;. w h" srized the f.'ll 
rope .and rani; mit sneli a vehement alarm, th.al the whole triwn 
was aroused ,ind the \ illami's were soon on the streets, 'fhe 
lirst to appear, with a gun. was the Rev. \\ illiain f.mersoii. 'm 



I So 



U\ilks ami lulk, 



llunil llistoru- Boston. 



licldvcd pastor of the town, and the Alinutc Men ralHed armiiid 
hini (111 tlu- villai^c -rccn. They heard the hoom of the i,ains 
at l.exiii^tnn. and tltey made their preparations to repel tlie 
inxaders. ?\[en. women, and children worked vigorously to 
remiive the cannon and stores to a place of safety." The Ven- 
erahle James Barrett, in 1848, then 86 years of ag-e, gave a 
vivid account of that day. Tie ^^aid : 'i was a lad. fourteen years 
old. 1 could not carry a musket, IjiU 1 coidd (h-ive oxen, .^tout 




ANCOCK-V^LARKE 



louse 



men .ind women could lo.'id carts witli stures and then liii\s 
and girls (jf my .■il;c would i;o. one on each side of the oxen 
with goads. ,ind whi]i them into a trot, and so we carried away 
the stores, and hiil llicm umler ])ine lionu;hs. l)efore the British 
regulars appeared." The .Minute Men formed :i battle line, be- 
ing veterans of the I'lench and Indian wars. They fell l)ack to 
a spot on the t'oiumon under command of C'ol. James ilarrett. 
on a hill, about eight) rods from the centre of the \illage. 
which was har<lly acc<im])lished when tlie redcoats and Hashing 
bayonets of the regidars were seen a i|uarter of a mile down 
the road. Some pi'oposed to licL^in the fight where thev stood, 
but cooler and wiser he.ads. seeing the odds against them, ad- 
vised falliu" b.ack a little distance, where the\- woidd be nuich 



Il'ulks and Talks . I hunt Historic Boston. >f<i 

slroii^iT by rcaxm of the militia that was Cdiiiiiiu; in to their 
aid. They took jjost on risiiiq- i^round just beyond the North 
Bridg:e about a mile from Concord Common. "The llritish en- 
tered Concord in two divisions Smith and I'itcairn remained 
in the town, and sent six compaiiii's to secure the bridiies, pre- 
vent the militia from crossiuL; tlu-m, and to discover and de- 
stroy the secreted stores, the hidint;" [ilace (}f which had been 
revealed by the Tories. .\ party went to the house of Colonel 
I'.arrett. expectiuL; to hnd stores there, but were disap]5ointed. 

The marauders could tind but little for which they came. 
The people did their work well that mornins;-. They demanded 
refreshments of Mrs. liarrett and offered to ])ay for tbeni. .She 
refused the money, sayint; : "X^'e are commanded to feed our 
enemy if he hungers." In the villai;e they broke open sixty 
barrels of flour, one half of which was afterwards saved. The^' 
broke the trunions of several cannon, burned sixteen cannon 
wheels, a few barrels of wooden trenchers and S].Mions, cut 
down the Liberty Pole au<l set the (ourt Ibmse on tire. The 
Committee of Safety ilid their work well in the hidinu of 
stores and supplies. This I'.ritish raid, sn me,ii;re in results, 
was al:)out as poorly planned .a^ ii pos>ilily could lie. li\- ten 
o'clock the little force of Continentals had increased to four 
hundred for the Minute Men from L'arHsle, Chelmsford, Wes- 
ton, Littleton and Acton, came flocking' in, and thev munbered 
about half as many as the Regulars. Major I'.uttrick, of Con- 
cord, took command. Tin y saw the smoke rising from the 
village. They were a little band st.uidiug inv the defence of 
their homes and the (|Uestiiin arose in their nunds. "W hat shall 
we do? Would it be treasmi to attack I'.ritish troops who were 
destroying their property and trampling on their rights?" Thev 
took counsel of their duty and acted proiu])tlv. Thev iiresscd 
forward in double file, \vith trailed ;irms to drive the I'.ritish 
from the Xorth llridge. which the liritish were tr\iug to de- 
stroy. As Major ISuttrick and his men rushed forward to save 
it. the Regulars opened fire on them. Captain Davis, of Acton, 
and one of his company were killed, when l'.u*tricl< slKJuted. 
"P'ire, fellow soldiers, for i lod's s.ike, fire!" 

The Minute Men delivered a full V(,lle\ which killed three 
of the British and woiunleil several others. Se\er.il other shots 
were fired, when the I'.ruish retreatdl .and the .Minute Men 
took possession ni the bridge. .\t noon the wIkjIc invading 
force was in full retreat toward Lexington. The whole coun- 
trv was in arms, as a I'.ritish officer expres^eil it, "the \meri- 



JValks mid I'allcs .Ihoiil llistonc Boston. 



^^i 



cans seemed to (Imp from llu- rloiuls."' Ily llic midillc of the 
forenoon, the British snil to I'.ostoii for re-infi ircements and 
at 2 o'clock Earl Percy came into I .i.'\ini^ton at the head of 
l.ioo men. The war had realh hc.miii and in L;ood e;inicst. 
In open highways, in wiioded ravines and hchiml >tone walls. 
fences and huildin;4>. tiic exasperated \eoinanr\- attacke<l llu- 
panting- and fleeing llritisji regulars. M,-in after man fell dead 
in the ranks, or was hadly wcmnded. until L;i-L-at wagons were 
tilled with slain and wonndeil. Tlie lu-,-il was intense, the dust 




iJiiiroi, a Minnie Midi Sml hj l.i.i-iiiiiluii I i/ Dr. Wmrtn 



was intolerahle : the nten were siittering from want of sleep, 
were hungry, thirsty, and fatigued from long and constant 
marching, and the eight hundred men, the flower of the I'.rii- 
ish army, must have surrendered to the "farmers" hut for llie 
arrival of Earl Percy, with reinforcements. 

The retreating British reached Charlestown, hetween 7 and 
8 in the evening. Colonel Smith's men had marched 36 to 40 
miles in 24 hours. All the way to Charlestown, the Minute 
Men of 31 towns, were harrying their rear. It was a complete 
rout of British regulars, who lost in killed, wounded and miss- 
ing, 273 men, out of a total of 800. The news first reached 
England, through .American sources, Capt. Richard Derby, of 



D«^Ml on tV.' 1W* Ai.rnv"«rt <4 iV* (linip (J C^aMoL Aedl I9|J.. 




S(0/». of .1////"/. \lail nl th, Ullihl. Cuiirni.l 




Battle Momnitent at the Green, Concord 



i^'> n'lilks and Tiilks . I hunt Historic Boston. 

Salem, a retired sliii)iiiaster, and a member >>i tlie I 'rii\-iiicial 
Cons're^s. i)atriolieally tendered his cnvn schocmer. the diminu- 
tive "Ouerd," eiimmamled 1)\- his son. John nerh\-, a Ixild and 
skilful navigator. \i< cirry news id I'ranklin. the \merican 
agent in London, lie tmik the risk nf storms ,il -ea. meks on 
the slinre, and I'.ritish men-nf-war. making the \-ii\au;e in 29 
days--i()i) nnles and more a ikiw — and reaching 1 .undun twelve 
days before the \-essel despatched l)y ( ieneral < lagc. lie car- 
ried co]iies of the k.ssex ( iazelte. giving full aci-onnt of the 
liattle which the LinidMH ]ia|iers a(hnilted. tallied \-er\ closely 
willi ihr official re]H,rl fi'oin < ieneral < lage. ( aiitain John 
Derh)- of Salem, is worthy lo st.ind by the si.lc nf the great 
sailoi-s and commanders nf the American Xav\ . who ha\-e ever 
been iheir ccjunti'y's pi'ide ;ind bnast. The I'rovincial I 'ongress 
sent a carefull\- ]irepai-ed n.aii-.iiive i.f the aff.iir to the ]ieople 
of England through I'.eiijamiii krankdin. in which was this 
])riiphetic introduction : 

■■< In (be nineteenth of April, in the \ear one thon--and. seven 
hundred and sevent\--fi\e. ,1 d.i\- to be remembered b\- all Amer- 
icans of the present -eiieraf ion, and which ought, and doubt- 
less will be, handed down to ages, yet unborn, the troops of 
r.rilrn'n, un|>ro\oke<I, shed the l)li"id ai smidrx ^u]iiect> of the 
I'.rilisli King, on the lield of fA-xington." 
"The Innit had l)egun with the dawn of the ■~un. 
And night ^aw the wolf drixaai back to hi> den. 
And ne\er since then, in the memnrv of men, 
Mas the < )ld I'.ay Slate seen such a himting again." 

Edward l{verelt Hale. 



<_l)r 25iittlr of 23iinKrr l}ili 

"Ami .\las>aclnisctts answers, 'IJunker Hill!' 
A watcliwi.ird iVir ns all." 

'i'lircc days after the tight at Lexington and C'uncurd the 
Provincial Congress of Alassachusetts assembled at W ater- 
town. and a Committee was a]i|)ointed to draw up a narra- 
tive of the ".Massacre." Tliex to^k nianv depositions, and 
it was conclusively proven thai the British fired the first 
shot. This narratix'e with a firm and respectful address to 
the inhabitants of (ireat I'.rilain, was sent to Arthtn- T.ce, 
the Colonial Agent in England, and was pul)bsbed iii the 
"London ( 'hrcinicle." on the 30th nf Ma}', nine days before 
General ( iage's despatches were leccixcd. It caused great 
excitement in London. Placards, laniponns and caricatu.rcs 
and doggerel verses were hawked about the streets. 

The retreat of the British from Conci:ird and Lexiugtnn 
was properly regarded as a defeat and a fiight. and the 
King's ministers were reviled l)ecause the great P.ritish 
army in Tioston had been Iieatcn 1)\- a tlnck of "Yankees" 
The news of the battle of Lexington sjiread rapidly 
through the Colonies, and it wa-. ■■vident to all that the 
time for compromise was past. Ap])eals were sent out to 
the other New England Colonies in enlist troops with all 
speed. These appeals were pi'mnptly .mswered. Xew 
Il.'inipsjiir'' sent two thousand men under (generals Stark 
and I'ciLnm. .'>tin-dy old Israel Putnam raised troops in 
Connecticut and the State commissioned him a Prig'idiei'- 
General. Rhode Island sent fifteen hundred men under 
General Xathaniel (_ireene, who proved to be one of th.-- 
most efficient generals of the Re^■ohItion. General Artemns 
Ward. ap]ioiuled b\' the ^Massachusetts \ssembl\-. was the 
senior officer, ,ind tocjk command of the little ai'ui} . They 
established a rigid Iilockade, .-lud piexmted supplies from 
reaching the town b\' land, tlie neighljoring coimtrv re- 
fused to furnish them li\' water. b'resh provisions and 
vegetaliles could no longer be obt.ained in P.oston, .ar.fl the 



I'^^f^ JFalks and Talks Aidant Historic Boston. 

inhabitants soon cxpfrirnccd t!u- privations of a besieged 
city. General Ga,L;e saw tbc perils of his situation. He 
saw himself surmunckd by active and exasperated foes. 
Being a man w hi illy devoid of tact, instead of relaxing his 
rigor, he incrca-^ed it. lie forbade all intercourse with the 




couiilr) and allo\\c(l no oiu- to lea\t.- the town. W ith the 
-up])lic-- of food and fuel cut oil", hunger --tared ihe ])eople 
in the face. The IWiti^h ofticers and ■-ohlier> were deeply 
chaL'rined at beiuL; thu^ lu'nnned in 1)\ a rustic I'out, with 
cab'co frocks and fowling piece--, but these countrymen 
could shcjot \ er\ straight. It w;is the same old spirit of 
the Cavaliers and the Roundheads. Considering I-lpisco- 
pacy as the only loyal f.aith the\- burned and desecrated the 
sectarian places of worship in lioston. The l'ro\incials 
retaliated by liurniug an l''|iiscop.il Church in ( ambridge. 



Walks ami Talks About Historic Boston. i'^') 

ill nil ])anifs |),iinc(l t'cir aclion, tlu- Ininiilialcil Llrili^h lo 
chastise ihrir iircsumptixc hcsio.nL-rs, the Provincials, 
throu.L;li (.•ntlui^iasni for tlu'ir caii-.c. to harass and pun- 
ish their haii-hty fcies. ( )ii tlu- jStli nf May sf\cral ships 
Ml' war arrived at llnstun frcni l''.nL;laii<l, with lar;;r rrin- 
forcenirnlv (if li'iMips. nndri' cuiiuiiand ■'!' ( Icnerals llowc, 
Buri^MX IK- and (/lintdn. IIiir-nyiK- cudd n. it cnncca! his 
scorn and surprise and exclaimed, "W hat, ten thnns.-md 
peasants kee]i ti\-e thousand Kins^'s troops shut up! Well, 
let us |L;<'t in and we will soon find elhow room!" Two 
years later this same boastiuL;- I'.ur-oyne tested the fii^ht- 
in.^- (ptalities of these peasants at Saratn^^a, when nearly 
six thousand of Firitish troops n\ his command, uncondi- 
tionally surrendered. 

At this time (ieneral < ia,m- issued a nmst insultiuL; nruc- 
lamatiiin. declarins;;- martial law. lir.indin^' all citizens in 
arms, and their abettors as rebels, and parricides of the 
Constitution, and offerint^- pardon to all who should return 
to their allei;iance, exceptiiiLT Samuel .\dams and bihn 
Hancock, wIki were reserxed fur c<indiL;n punishment as 
traitiirs. Mrs. lohn .\dams. tlu-n in lldston. wri'.ini; t( p her 
husband, says: "All tile records (if time cannot prodiuT ,-i 
blacker paLje. Satan, when clri\en from the reL;iou-- of 
bliss, did not exhibit more malice." The ne\\l\- arrixed 
Generals soon saw the perils of the town, and they resolved 
to sail}- out from Boston and fortit\' Dorchester Heit;'hts 
on the iSth of June, and Bunker Hill a little later. The 
Committee of .Safety learned of the intention of the British 
Commanders and decided Xa fortifx- Hunker Hill before 
their enemies could come out. (ieiu-ral \\'ard ;ind 1 ii'. 
Warren, who were very judicious, doul)ted the exjiediencv 
of maintaining; so extended a post, scantily furnislied with 
ordnance and ammunition. General Putnam made lii^ht of 
the danger. He was confident of the braverv of the militia 
if entrenched. He was seconded by General Pomerox , a 
leader of like stamji. These id(-as were sanctioned b\ oue 
whose 0]iinions in such matters carried ijreat weight. ( ol- 
onel William Prescott of Peppcrell, who commanded a 
rec;iment of "Alinute Men." He was at this time .ibout 
fifty years of acfe, tall and conimandim^- in his ap|ie,irance. 
and retainino; the port of a soldier. ?Te was in full unifcjrm. 
blue coat with facings, lapped uj) at the skirts. Ife wore :i 



Walks and Talks .Ihoiit Historic Hnstoii. i'>. 

top wig and tlirce-coniereil hal. '•a Juni; iijtli, ( iciicral 
Ward issued an order for tlie regiments of Colonels Frye. 
Uridges and Prescott, Gridiey's Company of Artillery, anil 
a fatigue party of Connecticut troops under Ca|)tain 
Thomas Knuwltcm of Putnam's regiment, to parade in the 
camp at Cambridge at six o'clock in the e\'ening with en- 
trenching tools. Col. William Prescott was placed in command 
and he was ordered to |)roceed tn fortify r.imkH'i's Hill ori 
the Charlestown I'cninsnia. \l <> d'eluck in the exeniug. 
after a prayer hy Dr. l.ang<lon, the President of I lar\'ard 
Ciillegc. a Large pcirtii'n nf tlie--f rcL;inu-nls acci inij>;niicd liy 
( Icncral I'ntnani marched (i\ i;r ( liarlrsti >\\ n Xeck and 
along the road to lUniker IJill, thr whole force nunihering 
thirlccn Jnnidred men. A lnuncd ni w,ir was held in the 
gloom and it was decided tn fortify Ilreed's Mill, it lieing a 
more effecti\'e point, as it was nearer Bost<jn. In the star- 
light a thousand men began the work with pick and '>pade. 
(bridle}- was the engineer who ]3lanned the re'lnnht. ''lu- 
men wdrkcd in great silence until dawn and were r.ot dis- 
covered 1>\- the sentinels on board the British men-of-war. 
.almost dirt'Ctlv below them, whose \oices shouting hourly, 
" \ir> well" were distincth- heard. Three British men-of- 
w.ir. the "Li\'el}-," "(ilasgow" and "SonuT.sct,' witli float- 
ing batteries, rode in fancied security, while ;i liattev} was 
being linilt i m the heights ju'-t ;diii\e them. At dayle-e.'ik 
the ,\uieric;ms h,-id completed a formidable redc)n1)t. si.\ 
feet abiixe the earth. Tlu-re was great ci >nstern,-ili(in on 
bn.-ird tlie "Lively" when the sentinels saw ;ind r-'pfirted 
wluit li:iil been dr)ne. and the Ca|)tain at once opened lire 
n|nin ihe works and the other vessels opened broadsides, 
wl'.ile tile .'\niericans within the works, unh;irmei| by the 
-Imls wiirked l>ra\"el\ nu. It \\a- a be.-iutifiil sunmu-r 
nmrning and the cannonade at this earl\- hour woke the 
British troops and the citizens from their shnnbers, and the 
roofs and steeples and hills of the town were covered with 
people gazing at the strange sight, (ieneral Gage deter- 
mined that the Americans must lie imuu-diately dislodged, 
and the newly arrived Generals prepared ti) land troops nn 
Charlestown Neck in rear of the .\mericans and thus cut 
off their retreat. General Gage decided ti> attaik iheni in 
front. A little ]i,-'St minu J400 triMi]}s e(iiup|-isin|.^ iui'anfv. 
gi'enadiers ;uicl artillery with tv\e]\e iiieees ,,i ,-ii"tdlerv 
crossed the ( h.-irles River in Imals. lancliui; in Cli.nlestovvn 



I'l-' Walks ami lalLs Alunn Historic Boston. 

at the head ol the pie^L-nt Chelsea bridge. AieaiUmic ll^e 
I'.nti^h iipeiied a \ er\ hea\ \ tire I'rc mi their ineii-nf-w ai and 
from C'lipp's Jlill. Ipnii landing; in Idiarlestuw n, lliiwe 
reconiKiitered the Ainericaii iiuMlicm, urdered hi.s men t.i 
dinner, and sent tn ( leiiei'al ' ia_L;e l^r nmre iroups. Tlie 
men in the reduuht whu hail toiled all the iDreiii i in, laid 
down the spade fur the accuntreiiientb of war. They had 
labored for more than twehe h(iin>, and built a redoubt 
eii^ht rods square. There were two embankments, one on 
the riL;ht and one i m the leit, the latter extendiiiL;' al'/no^-t 
to the .My>tie Kuer ( oloiiel I're^cott, at hrst beliexed 
that the Llriti^h \\(.iuld attaek him. When he found that 
tile l!ri<'ish \\ei"e inakiUL; e\ery preparation to do so, he 
sent to General Ward for reinforcements. General Ward, 
who feared an attack on Camhridye, responded rather 
tardily to the call, but finallx sent the Xew Hampshire regi- 
ments (if ( ieiierals l\eed ;ind Stark and some small field 
pieces. Dr. J(;ise|)h Warren, who had jnst recei\ed a com- 
mission as Major (i.'ner;il, broiiLjht news to Gohinel I'res- 
cott that reinfcjrcements were on their way. Lossing in 
hi-- History of the I'liited .States gi\ es the following ac- 
count of the battle: "When Ijowe wa^ about to rnovc at 
three o'clock in the afteinocjii. the .\mericans were pre- 
pared for the Contest. I'rt-scott with Warren and the con- 
^trnct<irs of the redoubt were within the works, e.vcepting 
the C'linnecticut troojis, who. with the Xew Hampshire 
fori'e^ were at a rail fence and breastworks on the west cf 
the redoubt. The artillery companies were between the 
breastworks and a rail fence on the eastern side .'Vid three 
com])anies were stationc<l in Gharlesto\\u at the foot of 
r.reed's Hill. Just as the U'^ln was to be,L;m reint'orcemeiits 
arri\-ed tVir llowi-, and landed at what is now i'le entrance 
to the .\'a\\ \;\y(\. They consisted of a )-egimcnt. some 
companies of light iufantvx ami grenadiers, .-ind a marine 
battalion led by .Major rhcairn of Lexington fame. The 
entire British force now coiifroiuing the Americans, num- 
liered more than three thousand. .\t half past three o'cloidv 
'ieneral Howe's great gnus mo\ed towards the re!'r,bi 
and ojieiied fire upon the works. They \\ ere followed by 
troops in twii columns, comm.nided b\ < ienerals Howe and 

I'i'jot. the infantr\ ,iii<l -reiiadiers assailing the ontworlcs. 

\t the same time the guiis on the shi|is and ('ojip's Hill 
hurled cannon shot in abuiid.ance ;it the little earthwork'. 



Walks and Talks .iboiit llistoiic Boston. i9j 

Jn the midst of the roariiiL; tlinnder the Americans re- 
mained silent. Their leader, Colonel i'rescott, had ordered 
them not to fire until they could see the whites of the e\es 
of the approachins;- foe. This silence was a riddle tiD the 




English but it was soon solved. When they were within 
the prescribed distance, up rose the concealed h(jst, fifteen 
hundred strong, at the word, "Fire!" and poured such a 
tremendous and destructive storm of bullets upon the 
climbers of the green slope, that whole platoons and even 
companies were pmstrated as a scythe wnuld ha\e i.iown 



■ "4 



Jl'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



duwn the lony grass through wliich the_\- were wading. 
I'lags fell to the ground like the tall lilies of a mown 
meadow and the shattered army was horror struck for the 
moment. The bugles sounded and they fell back to the 
^liore when a ^Iimim mI' ir'rini'h went u]) from the crest of 




ml 



U ' 



Kunker Mill. Howe rallied his men and repeated the at- 
tack with a similar result. The I'.ritish were annoyed by 
shots from houses in ( haile-town. and Howe ordered 
shells to be fired from CoppV llillinto (/harlestow-n. set- 
ting fire to the town, and t\\ c> liundred buildings and 
churches went up in riame>. 



Il'alks ami Talks .Ibotit Historic Boston. i95 

General Clintun, I'rum Cupps Hill had witnessed the sec- 
ond recoil of the British troops, and hastened across the 
river. Placing himself at the head of some hroken bat- 
talions, he shared in the perils and success of the third attack 
for Howe had rallied the troops and was again pressing 
against the Americans. They marched at the "doiihle 
quick" and with fixed bayonets. Again frrmi that Haniing 
centre went out dreadful volleys, but the ;i(jwdci- (if the 
Americans was now almost exhausted and their lire be- 
came more feeble. 

The British pushed o\er the ramparts and after a hand- 
to-hand struggle in the redoubt with bayonets and clubbed 
guns, the .\mericans were driven out. They fled across 
CharlestOA\;i Xeck, where reinforcements had been arrested 
by a heavy, unceasing fire from the British war vessels. 
The retreat was cnxcn-d by the prolonged firing of the 
troops of Stark, Reed ,ind Knowlton at the outwork-s. ( ieii- 
eral Warren was the last man to leave the redoufrt, and 
was shot down bv a bullet that ])ierced his brain. The 
British loss in this fight, in killed, wounded and prisoners 
was 1054. Among the officers mortally wounded was 
iNfajor Pitcairn, who was taken to Boston to a house on 
Prince Street, where he died. The house is still standing. 
His remains were buried under the altar in Christ Church. 

The American loss in killed. \\ ounded and n'issing '.vas 
450. The battle lasted about two hours. The Americans 
retreated across the peninsula running the gauntlet of can- 
non balls from the British vessels, and encamped that night 
on Prospect Hill, Somerville. The British reposed on their 
arms on the field of liattle until the next morning, when 
thev passed over to lioston nex'er again to appear on the 
mainlanil of ?^Iassachusetts. 



19" ll'iilks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

This was the hume of General Joseph Warren at the tune 
of his death. The property belonged to Joshua Green. Dr. 
Warren hired the house of ]Mrs. Green in 1770. ^Irs. War- 
ren died in this house in 1773. He gave up the practice ni 
his profession about this time, devoted his whole time and 
attention to legislative matter^ in Massachnsctts ])rece(ling 




the Revolution. 'I'his Ikhi^l- \\a> taken <lown in 1835, ^.nd 
the American House was built on its site, anil within a few 
liionths this old landmark of nearly a centin-y has lieen de- 
molished. 



'X^f S»tDDrt) of SiinKrr l}iir' 

cUillitJtn l^irKlmg Prfjcorr 

c5r cUrll-i-vnoajn ^infriran laiGtonan 

was a grandson of Colonel William Prescott. wlio com- 
manded the American Forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill. 
He lived on Beacon Street the later years of his life and 
he inherited the spirit of libertv which animated his grand- 
father, the Hero of Bunker Hill. When Charles Sumner 
returned from abroad, whither he went to recuperate after 
the murderous asault made upon him in the United States 
Senate by Preston S. Brooks of South Carolina, the State 
of Massachu.'ietts and City of Boston gave him a public 
reception and there was a parade in his honor. As the 
procession passed through Beacon Street, the residents for 
the most part showed their pro-slavery s\Tnpathies. by 
closing their blinds or drawing their curtains. But there 
were two conspicuous exceptions. The houses of Appleton 
and of \\"m. H. Prescott shdwed life and light and welcome 
to Charles Sumner, the standard bearer of freedom. 

\\"illiam H. Prescott married the grandaughter of Cap- 
tain Linzee. "who was a native of Xew England and lived 
in the neighborhood of Boston from the close of the Rev- 
olutionary War to the time of his death." Mr. George S. 
Hillard gives a verv interesting history of two crossed 
swords which hang o\er a dfior in the halls of the ^lassa- 
chusetts Historical Society. "One of them was worn at 
the battle of Bunker Hill by Colonel William Prescott. and 
the other by Captain John I.inzee, of the Sloop-of-war Fal- 
con, which at the same battle was engaged on the English 
side, cannonading the .\merican redoubt from the Waters 
oi Charles River." 

Thus the two swords, which had been worn by the sol- 
dier and sailor on opposite sides on that memorable day. 
came by inheritance and transmission into the f>ossession 
of the historian, and were for many years conspicuous ob- 
jects in his study, rarely failing to attract the attention of 

1>)7 



I'lS llalks and Talks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 

tlic nian\- strangers wIki came ti> sec him. Air, Thackeray, 
whose vigilant e\e did imt tail to notice them wlien he 
visited Mr. Prescutt in i>>5-', thus happih- alludes t(i them 
in the opening- of his mixel, "'idle \'irginians," published 
six years later. "( )n the library wall of one of the most 
famous writers iif America, there hang two crossed swords 
which his relatives wore in the great war of Independ- 
ence. The one swcird was gallantly drawn in the Service 
of the King, the utiier was the weapon of a brave and 
honored Keijublican suldier. The possessor of the harm- 
less triiphy has earned for himself a name alike honored in 
his ancestor's country and in his own, where genius like 
his lias always a [K'aceful welcome." Mr. Prescott, who 
died on the 28th da_\- of January, 1S50, bv his will made 
the following disposition of the swords: "The sword which 
belonged to my grandfather, Colonel William Prescott, 
worn by him in the battle of I'.unker Tlill. I give to the 
Massachusetts Historical .Society, as a curiosity suitalile to 
be preser\e<l among their c<illeclions: and the sword which 
btdonge<l to my wife's grandfiither, (',-i|)tain Linzee of the 
P>ritish Royal Xa\y, who coinmanded one of the enem\'s 
shi])S !}ing otf Charlestown during the s.iuie liattle. 1 give 
to my wife." 

I'.ut as Mrs. Prescott ,-inil the other heirs of Captain 
Linzee desired that tiie swdrds should not be separated, 
they were both sent to the llistorical Societv by the Ex- 
ecutor of Mr. Prescott s will. Resoltuions were at once 
tmanimously adopted b\ the Societ\-, gratcfuHv accepting 
the swords, and directing them to be arranged in a con- 
spicuous place in their h.ilK, crossing each other, as tluw 
had been crossed in Mr. I'rescott's library, and with suit- 
able inscriptions, setting forth their history and the cir- 
cumstances of their reception. .\ tablet of black walnut 
was therefore prejiared, to which they now stand attache<i 
crossed through a c;ir\ed wreath of oak lerixes. while over 
them are two shields, leaning against each other, and bear- 
ing respectiveU' the Prescott ;ind the Pinzee arms 



&omt jfdmotiG pi.KfS of Erooit for LU^iQS 
anti 'Wotita ot Krboltttionarp SDa^s 

The Taverns (if the 17th and iStli centuries were \ erv 
diti'erent from the phices called "Taverns" tcuhiy, where 
drunkenness su often i)re\ails. That the Puritans tolerated 
them is evidence that they were not places of a disorderly 
character. In many respects they were like the modern 
clul). Business men met in them, to talk oxer their affairs 
and their enterprises, and "mine host'" was often an old 
and valued friend of many of his guests. 

In the davs precedin^if the Revolution and for many suh- 
se<|uent vears the 

Green Dragon Tavern 

was hy far the uimsI popular of ,ill lloston resorts. The 
site was first mentioned in H135 in its grant to James 
jonson. who came in that >ear to lloston. He seems to 
lia\e l)een a man of consideraMc importance, for he was 
elected a deacon in the church, and in 1656 he was Captain 
of the .Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. The 
Green Dragon Tavern stood in a little lane, back of Union 
Street, a short distance north of Hanover Street. Thomas 
Hawkins built an inn on the gromid in 1662. Lieutenant 
( lo\ eruor Stougliton owned the projiertv at one time, and 
be(|ueathed it to his (laughter. When Cnion Street was 
widened it took in the land iimnediately in the rear, so 
that the site is now on I'nion Street. The building repre- 
sented in the cut was of brick, and was erected in 1690. 

In those good old Colony times, the prices of meals and 
of li(piors was regulated by law. I'or instance, no innkeej)- 
er Could charge more than si.xpence for a meal, or more 
than a penny for a ipiart of beer. It was in this Tavern 
that those leading patriots. Dr. Joseph Warren, James Otis, 
Paul Revere, John .\dams and Jolm Hancock, met almost 
daily, to confer over plans to free the Colonies from Great 
P.ritain, and it is Itelieved that in one of the rooms was 
hatched the iflea of the P>oston Tea Party. In 174;? this 



] Talks and Talks About Historic Boston. ^o: 

property was deeded for a little less than £500 to the mem- 
bers of St. Andrew's Lodge of Free Masons, who still 
hold the propert}-. It is said the\- once refused an offer of 
$200,000 for it. In 1740 a balloon was sent up from this 
Tavern. While the Green Dragon was the most famous cf 
Boston Taverns, it was not the oldest. 

COLES T.WERX 

was established in 1634, on Washington Street, a little 
north of the corner of School Street, near where Child's 
Restaurant is located. The pamjjhlet of the State Street 
Trust Company tells of se\-eral Public Houses on State 
Street, which, at one time or another ha\e offered their 
good cheer to strangers and townsmen. ".\s early as 1712, 
the 'Crown Coft'ee House' on Long \\'liarf was a favorite 
resort for visiting seamen, merchant princes, and the young 
bloods of Boston. It was in the days of the 'l)uccaneers,' 
and maiu' exciting tales were told, as the guests sijiped 
their beer and wine." 

Till-: ADMIRAL \'LRXOX TA\'ERX 
was named in honor ii' the famous seadng of the i-lngli.-h 
navy. Lawrence Washington, who served on the staff" of the 
Admiral, named his estate in X'irginia "}^Iount \'ernon." This 
Tavern stood on the corner of .State Street and [Merchants 
Row. '■( )ver it was the wooden figure of the English Ad- 
miral, sextant in hand, in the uniform of his rank, quite ap- 
propriate as a sign for a tavern, when we learn that from the 
hero of "Porto Bello' comes the term 'grog' which seafaring 
men have given to strong drink." Sheni Dmwne. the Xorth 
End carver, was the artist who made the wooden image. He 
w^as noted in his day for the ships' figure heads he turned out. 
and it is .said that Copley, the great portrait painter, watched 
him as he carved the figure of .\dmiral A'ernon." 

Long ^^'harf. in Revolutionary days was the great land- 
ing place of the town. Here the Royal Governors disem- 
barked, and escorted by the local militar\- bodies, marched 
in great pomp and state to the Tmvn House. In I7'i8. the 
first British soldiers sent here to overawe .Americans landed 
at this wharf. In 1778 the French Allies, inider comm.nd 
of Count Rochambeau. were received with delight by the 
American patriots. The notorious Colonel Dalyrymple 
and his men end)arked at Long \\'harf for Charlestown. on 
that ev<jntftd morning. June 17. 1775. to take part in the 



-'0^ IJ'alks Olid Talks About Historic Boston. 

battle of Hunker Hill, from which many ne\er returned. 
Durin.y; the Civil War, thousands of lirave buys in blue 
marched down State Street, amid cheers and waving flags 
on their wav to the seat of war. The old street has wit- 
nessed many strange and stirring scenes, closely woven 
into the life of the nation. 

(3n the corner of State and Kilb\- Streets, there sti^md in 
the da^-s oi the Re\-olution, a well-kn(jwn public house, the 
resort of the patriots, and known as the 

Bl'XCH ol" GRAl'F.S T.WERX. 

Its -ign \\as a gilded, car\ed bunch of L;rape>. It opened 
its doors for business in 1712. and became the fa\iirite 
rallying place for the \\ higs, and so continued during all 
the Revolutionary struggle. In this Tavern was celeljrated 
the victor}- of Colonel lUhan Allen at Ticonderoga. bv 100 
of the solid men of Huston. At e\er\- toast rockets were 
discharged in the street, cannon roared, and fifes and 
drums played patriotic airs." At nine o'clock two barrels 
of grog were rolled into tlu- street and furnished free 
drinks for the multitude outside. "Despite this liberality, 
contemporary accounts relate that before ten o'clock every 
one had gone ipiietly home, and there was no disorder." 
"When the news of the Declaration of Independence 
reached Doston, the patriots built a large bonfire in front 
of the tavern. The Lion and the L'nicorn, and other em- 
blems of royalty, that decorated the ' dd State House were 
torn from their resting places and burned." There is no 
doid)t but that it wab a most famous Ta\'ern in its day. 
Captain Frances (joelet, an Englishman traveling in .Amer- 
ica in 1770, records in his Diary "that the Bunch of Grapes 
Tavern was noted as the best punch house in Boston, and 
was resorted to by most of the gentlemen, merchants and 
masters of vessels." .\fter the E\acuation of Boston. 
Washington s|)ent ten days in the tijwn, and during this 
time, he. and his officers were entertained at this Tavern 
at an elegant dinner, as a part of the official ceremonies of 
the occasion. In March, 1786, a group of Continental 
Armv Officers gathered here, and under the inspiration of 
General Rufus Putnam, organized the "C)hio Company" 
which settled Ohio, beginning at Marietta. On the other 
side of State Street and near the corner of Exchange I^treet 
was the 



IFulks and J'iilks About Historic Boston. -'oj 

-I'.RITISH COFFEE HOUSE," 

the principal resort of 'furies and I'.ritisli ntticers, dnrinu;' 
the occupation of the town by the "Kinij's Troops.' The 
first play ever acted in Hoston was g^iven at this Coffee 
House, and such was the struggle to gain admittance th;it 
quite a riot ensued, and several of the participants were ar- 
rested and spent that night in jail. It was in this resort 
that the brilliant orator and ardent ])alriot. James Otis, 
was assaidted and recei\ed injuries which shattered his 
intellect. A friend of r)tis, passing by, saw the struggle, 
and threw himself between Otis and Robinson and douln- 
less saved the life of Otis. It ended the public career of 
( )tis. for he never recovered from the wounds. ( )n the site 
of the Merchants Bank Building was 

THE R()V.\L EXCHAXGE, 
another famous resort of British officers and their -yini)a- 
thizers. .\n altercation took ])lace in this house, resulting 
in a duel on Boston Common, and the death of one of the 
[jarties. (Governor Phijips and L'hief Justice Sewall once had 
a famous dinner in this Tavern. 

CORX COCRT. 
Enters l-"aneuil Hall S(|uare on the southerK- side, in 
Colonial days it was known as the Corn Market. In i/\vv 
Madame Brazier, a niece of Lieutenant-Governor .'-^pencer 
Phipps, kept an inn there, known as Brazier's Inn. ."^he 
made a famous noon-day punch which was greatly enjoyed 
by many Bostonians of those days. When John Hancock 
was made Governor this Inn was renamed "The Hancock 
Tavern.'' \\'hile not so ancient as many other Boston tav- 
erns, it was nevertheless rich in historical associations. "In 
this ta\ern lodged Talleyrand, during his stay in Boston. 
He was at this time an exile from France. When Xapoleon 
came into power he returned to his native country and be- 
came one of Xapoleon's chief ministers." In i/(f> the ex- 
iled French priest, John Cheverus, lodged here. He became 
pastor of the Church of the Holy Cross on Franklin 
Street, and later was the first Roman Catholic I'.isho]) of 
Boston. In 1707, Louis I'hillipe. afterwards King of 
France, was a guest at this house. The old sign, bearing a 
portrait of John Hancock, swung for over a hundred years 
over its doorway, and now quietly reposes in a corner of a 
room of the Boston ian .^ocietv. 




(,•,„,,„ ^\',r^.'l,l,H|h. 



l?oto CUiJo!)iiiBton Comprllrt) tt)r Siitiof) 
"Co CbiUiicUr BoQton 

AlthciniL^h W a^hin^tun took command of the Anicrica-i 
army in July 1773, it was not until the early part of 1776 
that he was fully prepared for an aggressive mo\ement. 
He found the army undisciplined, being for the most part 
raw militia. He expected to find 18,000 to 20,000 men un- 
der arms, and there were less than fourteen thousand. 
There was a shortage of ammunition, only nine cartridges 
to a man. He at once despatched letters to Rhode Island, 
the Jerseys, Ticonderoga and elsewhere for immediate sujo- 
plies of powder and lead. The American armv was in this 
critical condition for a fortnight. The camp was rejoiced 
when General Knox arrived from Ticonderoga with a long- 
train of sledges drawn b\- oxen, bringing more than hftv 
cannon, mortars and howitzers, jie^ides supplies of lead 
and flint. Further ammunition was received from the 
Royal Arsenal at Xew York and other ruir.rters. and "ein- 
forcements of ten regiments of militia. 

"Tn the latter part of February, 1776 Washington had every- 
thing in readiness for his great strategical move, to take pos- 
session of Dorchester Heights and fortify them. He planned 
that if the enemy detached a large force to drive him from the 
Heights, an attack would be made forthwith on the other side 
of Boston by General Putnam. He had four thousand picked 
men in readiness in two divisions under ( ienerals Sullivan and 
Greene. At a concerted signal from Ro.xburv. they were to 
embark in boats near the mouth of the Charles river, cross un- 
der fire of three floating batteries, land in two places in Bos- 
ton, secure the strong posts, force the gates, and work on the 
Xeck and let in the Roxbury troops. 

General Howe felt secure in his position in Boston. He 
wrote to Lord Dartmouth, "W'e are not in the least appre- 
hensive of an attack upon this place from the rebels bv sur- 
prise, or otherwise." The loyalists in Boston felt unbounded 
confidence in the ultimate triumph of (ireat Britain. Mean- 

205 



JO'' It'alks ami Tulles .Ihout Historic Boston. 

tiiiK- I'.ritish ami Torirs niailL- tht-niSL-lvcs more and iiKjrc ob- 
iKixii'ii^ t(i tlu' patridl^. TIh-v ilisri'Ljanleil tlu-ir rights, were 
ovcrl)eariiig and insolent. The scarcity of all kinds nf fnod 
caused i^reat sufferin.cf anidn;; all classes, so closcl)- had W'ash- 
ini;tfin drawn his lines arouinl tlu- town. 

The e\-enin,L; of .\|onda\, the 4tli of March, was the date 
fi.xed upon for the occu|)alion of 1 )orchester Heights. W'ash- 
ini.;ton saw. that li\- oecii|i\'inu; and fortifyino; these Heights, 
he could completel)- conim.ind the town and harbor, and thus 
dislodge the llritish. Xatnre. in the formation of that hill, had 
done her best to second the efforts of the patriots, and it only 
remained for them to take possession and fcjrtifw The large 
force which the British would have to detail to .iss.iult the 
works on the hill, would leave the town well nii^li defenceless, 
against the attack of the .\nierican troops fr(iin C'ambridge. 
Thus Washington woulil h,i\e the I'lrhisji l)etween two fires. 
\\ashington contracted for several thirteen inch mortars, 
whicli were (|uickly delivereij. It was necessary in making the 
fortifications, to find a substitute for dirt and accordinglv. vast 
i|uantities <if fascines and scre\ve<l hav were collected in the 
American cam|i. The f.iscines were made of white birch and 
faggots and were i)rocured from tlie farm of Captain John 
ITomans in the upper part of 1 )orchester. Washington select- 
ed the jilace on account of its obscurity. A lieutenant and 
thirty men were detaileil to cut the brush. At sesen o'clock in 
the e\ening (if Maich 4th, during a terrific liomhardment of 
the West .^ide of I'.oston from Cobble lliU, Lechiuere Point, 
(ieneral Thomas of the American army, with three thousand 
men, marched across the causeway to Dorchester 1 [eights. A 
covering party of eight hundred men led the wa\-. then fol- 
lowed the carts, with the intrenching tools, then twelve hun- 
dred soldiers under the nuniediate command of < ienci'.d Thom- 
as, and in the rear followed carts, loadt-d with f;iscines and 
hay. The whole move was made in the greatest silence, no 
one being permitted to sjjeak above a whisper, that not a sound 
should be wafted over the water to the ear of some vigilant 
British sentry. At eight o'clock the troops arriverl on the 
Heights, and at once began operations. Part of the covering 
party was stationed at the nearest point to Boston and part at 
the point nearest Castle Island. Then the three hundred carts- 
men under the special command of Mr. ( ioddard of Pirookline, 
beg.-ni to trrms]iort the fascines to the hill and in a few hours. 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. ^oj 

the iK-ces^ary i|uantitics wfix- on the ^ronnil. I'.undk-s ct hay 
were arranged to protect tlie teams ami some of the (hivers 
made three or four trips in the ni,i:;lit. 

The veteran (jridley, the engineer of Hunker llill, laid the 
lines for the entrenciiments on Dorchester Heights. As if by 
magic the fascines were set up, with stakes like basket work, 
antl the interstices filled with wbatiwer was available. It was a 
cold night, and the earth on the hill was frozen eighteen inches 
deep. 




vtiVKtrr llriijhis, 1770 



The moon sbime brigbtlv and lent her light to ai<l the patriots 
in the completion of a work which was to prove of the greatest 
advantage to Boston and to Americans everywhere in their 
struggle for independence. Washington, as he walked among 
the men. encouraged them by saying: "Remember it is tlie 
Fifth of March and avenge the death of your brethren." As 
the sun arose .above the horizon it revealed to the I'.ritish the 
fortification on the Heights. The haze of the e.arh- morning 
made the work look extremely formidable, and Cieneral Howe 
gazed with astonishment upon it. and said, ''the rebels have 
done more in one night than my whole arnn' would have done 
in a iiK.inth." 



2o8 ll'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

The British Admiral saw that unless the Americans were 
dislodged from the Heights, tiie fleet could not ride in safety 
in the harbor and the town must be evacuated. Relying upon 
the strength and discipline of his army, General Howe deter- 
mined to attack the entrenchments, however great the hazard. 
He ordered 2,400 men, under command of Lord Percy, to re- 
pair to Castle William and to assail the works at night. Their 
pre]5arations were seen l)y the Americans and with feverish 
excitement they prepared fur the contest. Thousands were 
assmbled on the neighboring liill> to witness the battle. In 
iirder ti) render passage u[) the hill mure ditficult. should the 
enemy attempt to storm the fort, the Americans had a large 
number of barrels filled with stone and sand and these were 
placed on the brow of the hill. These were to be rolled down 
the embankment ujion the British troops as they marched up. 
At 12 o'clock the Pjritish troops began embarking for the Cas- 
tle, l)Ut soon a viiilent wind ,'ir(ise and prevented the soldiers 
from reaching their destination. During the night the storm 
increased in fury, the rain falling in torrents. The ne.xt day 
the wind was still boisterous and still the heavy rain. All this 
time, the Americans were strengthening their redoubt. Gen- 
eral llowe was fiircecl to give up his project and recalled his 
tni(i]is. He saw that the fortifications were too strong to give 
an\ liiijir (if successful attack and he determined to evacuate 
the luwn rather than have his little arm\ cut to |iieces by the 
Americans. This wa^ avtoundnig and heart rending news to 
tile l.u\alist.s in the town. .Many (jf theni (k'cided to undergo 
a long voyage rather than commit themselves to the wrath of 
the patriots. Lieneral Howe provided vessels for their ac- 
commodation and C(inveyed them to Xova Scotia, where many 
of them settled. It must have been a descendant of one of 
tliese Tories who once told a Boston audience that the loyalists 
at that time ilid nut leave Boston because they were forced to 
do so, but liecause thev did not wish longer to associate with 
such common and illiterate people as those in the city of Bos- 
ton. Those "cultured" Tories emigrated to a more congenial 
political atmosphere and there were no tears shed over their 
very hurried departure. 

There was no express negotiation lietween Washington and 
General Howe but there was a tacit understanding, that no 
ilamage would be done to the town, if the llritish were to be 
permitted to leave unmoleste<l. The Evacuation of Boston at 
last bore all the evidences of a panic, due to the wise strategy 



ll'alks (/;/(/ Talks .Ihoiit Historic Boston. 



2og 



(if "Mr. (ieori^e \\"asliiii,^toii," as the haughty Britons sarcas- 
ticallv called him. Results proved that he was more than a 
match for the trained soldier, ("icneral Howe. 

.\s soon as the retreat of the British was observed. ( ieneral 
Ward, with 500 men, marched in over Ro.xbury Neck, opened 
the gates of the town and entered Boston just as the last rem- 
nant of that army went aboard their shi])s and sailed away, 




n,i,,UtR 



nevermore to inllict themselves upon liberty lovinij Americans. 
There were 7S ships and transjjorts and between eleven and 
twelve thousand men, soldiers, sailors and refugees. 

.\s Washington entered the town he was most jovfull}' re- 
ceived. The town, the state ami individuals vied with each 
other in their ex|)ressions of deep gratitude. Throughout the 
Colonies the news of the Evacuation of Boston carried great 
joy and was everywhere regarded as a ])resage of the future 
success of the Americans in the cause to which they had 
pledged, "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor." 



(LOtlliam Ctinningtiam 

Tin- British jailor uf Xew Yurk During the Revolution. 

Many of the officers and ayents sent by George the Third 
and his ministers to aid in "subjugating America," were 
men of the worst type. Corrupt, brutal and overbearing 
they lost no opportuity of showing their contempt of the 
colonists and of oppressing them. Perhaps the worst and 
most cruel of them all was \\'illiam Cunningham, who. as 
we have already seen, was somewhat conspicuous during 
the last days of the sojourn of the British in Boston. This 
man, the son of a British Army Surgeon, was born in the 
regimental barracks in Dublin, Ireland. In 1774 he came 
to America and settled in New York where he made a liv- 
ing for himself for some time by "breaking colts" and giv- 
ing riding lessons, \\hen the Revolution broke out in 1776, 
he became involved in a political row with some local pa- 
triots and was forced to flee to Boston, there U< seek the 
protection of the British Army. In Boston he attracted the 
attention of General Gage by his overbearing and quarrel- 
some disposition and particularlv l)v his loud-mouthed es- 
potisal of the cause of the British. General Gage, who 
showed l)ut little tact in his dealings with Americans, ap- 
pointed the fellow. Provost Marshal of the British .-Xmiy. 
In that autocratic position Cunningham had full range for 
the exercise of his mean and vindictive disposition, and he 
ne^'er missed an opportunity of exercising it. \\'hen Gen- 
eral Washington forced General Gage and the British .\rmv 
out of Boston. Cunningham accompanied the exiles to Yew 
York, and was put in charge of the Revolutionary prisoners 
there, and in Philadelphia. There were several impromptu 
prison-^ in Xew ^'ork where the patriot captives were 
lodged. ( )ne was the "City Hall," another the famous "Old 
Sugar House," another, "Kings," now "Columbia College," 
anothei- the new "(iaol" (the old Hall of Records), which 
stood in Cit\' Hall Park, which was trirn down a few year.': 
ago. But the worst orison iif all was the prison ship 
"Ierse\-" moored on the Brookh'n Sliore. Churches were 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. ^" 

alstj turned intu jaiN. Wlicn tlie llritish captured New 
Wirk and I 'liiladc]ihia they took thousands of Americans 
prisoners, and among all these soldiers were many non- 
combatants. These latter were made prisoners because 
they had jielped the cause of freedom by money gifts and 
patriotic speeches. ( )ne writer speaking of the prison ship 
Jersey, >a\ s : "( )n i)oar<l this vessel the captives were herded 
by hunch'eds. in dark, foul pens, destitute of pure air and 
.sunlight. The)- were given such food as a dog might well 
scorn and in Mich tiny (|uantities as would not suffice to keep 
a dog alive. The water the\- drank was filthy. Xo medical 
care or chance for cleanliness or exercise was granted them. 
I'rison fever and other maladies scourged their ranks. They 
died like so many flies. To such fearful condition were they 
reduced that the lowest city outcasts were touched by pity 
and secretly sent them food." The fate of the captives in 
the New York Hall of Records, was little lietter. Pintard 
gives an account of their sutiferings from which we quote: 
"Sc> closely were they packed together that when they lay 
down at night to rest on the hard oak tloor, and they wished 
to turn, it was all together by word of command, right,' 
'left,' being so wedged as to form almost a solid mass of 
human bodies." Xo excuses could even jialliate such horrible 
tortures practiced by the British ( iovernment upon American 
prisoners in the days of the Revolution. Directly Cunningham 
was responsible, but the Government could have bettered 
matters, had they chosen to do so, for the leading British 
officers were well aware of what was going on, but they were 
indilTferent and had a supreme contempt for the colonists. 
The residents of New York knew of the cruelties as apjx'ars 
from an old letter written at the time, part of which reads as 
follows: "Folks of fashion do complain right grievously that 
the groanings and lamentable cries of the jirisoners ( both 
here in New York in the prison shi]) on the Birooklyn shore) 
disturb their slumbers. .Xml they pray that Master Cunning- 
ham, our Provost Marshal, will devise some means to keep 
the poor wretches c|uiet of nights." There is abundant evi- 
<lence to show that his own countrymen loathed and despised 
Cunningham, \et he was selected by the authorities to do this 
detestable and murderous work. In his confession shortly 
before his death he says: "I shudder to think of the murders 
I have been accessory to. both with and without orders from 
(Iovernment. especiallv while in Xew \'ork. during whi' h 



-'!-' Hulks ,111(1 Talks .11', nit Historic Boston. 

time, there were iiKjre tluiii two tlujiisand i)riMinei-> w In i died, 
by stoppiiii^- their rations, whiell 1 sold." There were also 
2/5 American prisoners executed. A guard was despatched 
to forbid people to look out of their doors or windows, on 
pain of death, after which the prisoners were taken from their 
(piarters at niiilniglit and huni;', without warning or mer'j) , 
just behind the barracks, it was this same savage Provost 
Marshal Cuimingham, who had charge of Captain Nathan 
Hale, the American patriot, e.xecuted as a spy near what is 
now Central Park, New ^'ork. "Hale was denied the services 
of a clergyman and the use of a Hible, but the more humane 
officer who superintended tlie execution furnished him W'th 
materials to write letters to his mother, his betrothed, and 
sisters. These letters Cminingham destroyed in the presence 
of the victim of his brutalit_\-, while tears and sobs marked the 
sym])athy of the multituile of spectators who witnessed the 
scene. Hale met his death with tirniness. With unfaltering 
voice he said: "1 only regret that 1 have Luit one life to give 
to my country." These were the last \\orils utlei-ed by the 
young patriot, then only a little more than t\\ent\-iine years 
of age." When ])eace was concluded between the colonies 
and the mother country in 1783, the wretch Cunningham re- 
turned to England with the Royal troops. I^ossing, in "Our 
t omitry," gives an amusing incident concerning this man, tlu 
day of his departure, related by Dr. .\lexander .Vnderson of 
-Xew \"ork, in his da\', the ]iioneer wood engraver of New 
^ ork. '{"he doctor said that at the time of the evacuation of 
the L'nited States by the I'.ritish forces in 17<S3, he was then 
a boy between eight and nine years of age having been bo. ■'■ 
three days after the battle of Lexington. He was living with 
his parents on Murray Street, near the Hudson River, then 
sparsely settled. Opposite his father's dwelling was a lioard- 
ing house kept by a man named Day, whose wife was a large, 
stout woman and an ardent \\ big. On the morning of Evac- 
uation Day she ran up the .American flag on a pole in front 
of her house. The I'.ritish claimed possession of the city un- 
til twelve o'clock noon, and this act was offensive to them. 
Early in the forenoon when young Anderson was on his 
father's stoop, he saw a burly, red-faced P.ritish officer in full 
uniform coming down Murray Street in great haste. Mrs. 
Day was sweeping in front of her door when the (jfficer came 
u]) to her in a blustering manner, and in loud and angry tones, 
ordered her to haul <lown the llag. She refused, when the 



Il'alks and Talks .Ihoiit Historic Bustuii. -'3 

officer seized th? halyards to pull it down hiniselt. .Mrs. Dax- 
flew at him with her broomstick and beat him so furiously over 
his head that she made the powder fly from his wiq'. The 
officer stormed and swore and tugged in vain at the halyards 
which were entangled and Mrs. Day applied her weapon so 
vigorously that he was soon compelled to retreat and leave 
the flag of the valiant woman floating triumphantly in the 
keen morning breeze. This inglorious attempt to haul down 
the colors of "Day Castle" and the result, was without doubt 
the last fight between the liritish and the .\mericans in the 
old War for Independence, and the British officer who was 
so thoroughlv beaten bv a plucky .-\merican woman was none 
other than the infamous scoundrel ^^'illiam Cunningham." 

This same man on his return to England lead a riotous life 
resorting to various kinds of crookedness to support himself, 
being shunned by all decent, self-respecting people. "Being 
short of monev to squander in dissipation he committed forg- 
erv for which crime he was tried, condemned and executed." 
.\t last justice was meted out to him at the hands of his own 
countrvmen. 



Tl^t amrriran f-las 




"Mag of the free hearts' liope and hnnie ! 

By angel hands to valor given! 
Thy Stars have lit the welkin dome. 

And all thy lines were burn in hea\en. 
Fore\er float that standard sheet. 

Where breathes the fcje. hnt fall- before ns. 
With Freedom's soil lienealh our feet. 

And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us!" 

Drake 



Walks and Talks .Ibont Ilistaric Boston. -i'S 

THE BIRTH OF THE FLAG. 

Previous tu the Dcclaratidii of liulcpeiideiice, eacli col- 
ony was a unit, and each had its u\\ n flag. Up to that (hite 
the only tie that bound them together was the common 
feeling against the injustice of the mother country. "The 
first flag that floated nver the North American continent, 
so far as history informs us, was planted on the coast of 
Labrador in 1497 by John Cabot. This was the Red Cross 
of St. George, the royal ensign of Henry the Seventh of 
England, extending entirely across a white field." "From 
the settlement of Jamestown to that June day when the 
flag of the Colonies was flung to the breeze, the Red Cross 
of England floated over the Colonies. For 17 vears the 
Massachusetts Colonv had no flag. The religious intoler- 
ance of the time made the cross on the English flag a cause 
of oft'ence. After the accession of Charles the Second to 
the throne, some of the Colonies used a red flag, with a 
pine tree or globe, instead of the cross. New England's 
flag was a green i)ine tree, upon a white field with the 
motto. "An .\ppeal to Heaven." Other mottoes were some- 
times used, such as "I.iherty or Death." or "Don't tread on 
me." 

The White Mag with the I'ine Tree was used from 1707 
t*^ ^777- One writer on the flag says there has been much 
discussion as to the flag borne by the patriots at Bunker 
Hill. Some assert that the patriots had no flag there. 
Trumbull, in his famous painting of the battle, depicts a 
red flag with a pine tree upon it. The flag that was borne 
at Concord l)y the men nf iledford is still in existence and 
may be seen in the Town Hall of Bedford. It has on it a 
Latin inscription, translated. "Conquer or Die," also a 
mailed arm, with drawn dagger, and three balls, supposed to 
be cannon balls. No one, today, can tell its origin. South 
Carolina's flag was yellow, and on it a representation of a 
rattlesnake about to strike, and underneath the words, "Don't 
tread on me." Connecticut's flag bore the motto on one side, 
'AVho transplanted, sustains," and on the other side. "An ap- 
peal to Heaven." New York's flag had a white field with a 
black heaver on it. Rhode Island's flag was white with a blue 
anchor and the word, "Hope" above it and a blue carton with 
thirteen white stars. "The stri])es first appeared on the flag 
hoisted bv order of General ^\'ashington, at Prospect Hill, 



-'ii> ll'alks ami Tallcs .Iboiil Historic Bflston. 

Siiiii(.-r\ilk-, Massachusetts, Jamuiry i, ij/'i. the crosses upon 
the lihie tiekl were again seen in the L'anton. When reported 
in England, this flag was alluded to as the "thirteen rebellious 
stripes." There is a thenrv that the stripes were formed bv 
placing six white stripes, across the red ensign of Great Brit- 
ain. This theory would seem to l>e confirmed by a sentiment 
on the national flag once given by (ieneral Washington, in 
these words : "\\^e take the stars from Heaven, the red from 
our mother country, separating it l)y white stripes, thus show- 
ing that we have separated fmni her, and the white stripes 
shall go down to posterity, re])resenling 'LihertN.' " (Jn lune 
14th, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the following 
Resolution: "Resolved that the hdag of our thirteen United 
States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white : that the 
I'ni'in l)e thirteen stars, wliite. nii a blue field, representing 
a new constellation." ( iener.al Washington, Robert ^lorris, 
and Colonel Ross, were a|ipimited a committee to get a flag de- 
signed and made. The committee went to the little upholstery 
simp of Betsy Ross, on ,\rch Street, Philadelphia and asked 
her to make a flag after the design thev showed her. ".She 
agreed to do it, and suggested that the stars which Washing- 
ton had dr.iwn with six points, be made with five, as being 
more artistic, and taking .a piece 1 d" paper and folding it, she 
showed linw the star cuuld lie made with a single clip of the 
scissors. The design was sketched ;ind cr)l()red li\' a local 
.artist and from it Betsy Ross madi; the samjile flag. 

The flag was first used in inilitar\ service on .\ugust J. 
1777. at the time the 1-jiglisli and their Indian allies, made an 
,atl;ick upon Fort Stanwix. 'i'lie flag was made in the fort. 
the red stripes being contril^uted 1)\ a woman who t'lre them 
from a petticoat, the white stri]ies from shirts of the men. 
.anil the l:)lue from the military cloak of Captain Abraham 
Swartwiiut. This story is confirmecl liy a letter still in ex- 
istence. It is said that John Paul Jones was the first to tl\ 
this fiag over a n;ual \-essel. the "Ranger." which he com- 
mande<l. The flag remained the same until 1705 when two 
stripes and two stars were added for \ ermont and Iven- 
tucky. In 1818, when it was found that there must be a 
limit to the stripes, it was decided by Congress that the flag 
lie permanentl}- thirteen stri|ies, representing the thirteen 
original states and that on the admission of every new state 
one star be added on the union .and that such addition shall 
t.ake effect on the I-'ourtii of |id\ ne.xt succeeding such ad- 



Hoiks and Tulles .Iboitt Historic Boslon. -'17 

mission- Tims tlii' furm of imr lla^^;" was passed liv C'ijn,<;rcss 
in 1818. In the War with .\k-\icn. the tlat;- liore twenty-nine 
stars, in the Civil War, thii-t\-hve. Tdilav (I()i5) it lias 
forty-eight stars, and none has ever heen taken from it. the 
government maintaining chnMng the t'i\il War. in the sixties, 
that the tie which hinds tlie natinn iann(]t he sexered. 

\\'II.\T rilh; I'LAC MK.VXS. 

"It was a small peuijle fur which the Continental Congress 
prescribed this emldem and drew the design and painted 
its colors. At the very start the flag had a meaning, novel 
in such a wide applicatinn. It meant self rule by the people, 
independence of coiUrol by am- i)Ower presuming to place 
the people in the attitude of \assals. There were republics 
before that of tlie L'nited States. Init they had been smoth- 
ered and absorbed; ancient history records some of them. 
Switzerland. toda\ . alone, survives nf anv preceding the 
United States. ( )ur Hag ijecl.-ired. first in all the wt.jl'd. the 
principle of libert\- as we know it. It was an epoch.il in- 
novation. The flag which Washington raised at Prospect 
Hill, !^omerville. s\nibolized a recognition of imperial 
authoritx-, while declaring the unity of the Colonies in de- 
fiance of oppressii m. 

With the action (jf the Continental (.'ongress. all com- 
promise, or contingent alliance was re]iudi;ite<l. The L"nited 
States stood alone, tlung its own flag in defiance of all con- 
trol, sought its own friends .among the nations, and took its 
place as the first stalwart exponent of the principle (if liberty- 
Our flag means that the right to govern depends upon the 
consent of the governed; that an unconsenting people may 
revolt, may overthrow, if possible, its alien control, and must 
establish its own aiilhoritx upon a basis recognizable by 
others. Happily this w;is done here bv the patriots <:if so 
many generations ago. The\- wmi out. The Revolutionary 
Flag was made, as the Continent;d Congress decreeil, the 
Flag of the Republic of thirteen states. .-\nd today, this 
fla.g, augmented in its union from the oi-iginal thirteen stars 
of the small, rebellious Colonies to the forty-eight of the 
great states of this twentieth centur\. is a l)lazon of the 
principle of liberty to the world. ( )n each Flag Dav the 
flags blossom out all o\er the country. We celebrate not 
only our own eniancii>ation. but the control which our ex- 
ample must exert ujion the ideas of the world and the for- 



-'is iralks anil Tulks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 

tuiK'.s Ml its inhal.iitants. Under the flag of our country, we 
can, ami shall, if ever necessary, fight as of old. But under 
the flag \vc will, if possible, keep the peace, revive patriotism 
and civilization in countries that look to us for guidance; 
and prove to the nations of the earth that the great Republic 
of the West, stands for amity and human Iirotherhood, now, 
as ever." 

X(.)te: — riu- authcir acknowledges his great indebtedness 
for nnich of the material of this article to a little pamphlet, 
entitled '■( )ur Mag," written for "The National Association 
of Patriiitic Instructors," by Elizabeth Roljbins P.errv, and 
also to an (-(Htoiial which appeared in the colunnis ui the 
"I'.oston I'ost" on b'lag Day. 

< il.l) (,L( )\<\ 

THE HAXXi':R I'diTSY AfADE* 

"We have nicknamed it ( )ld ( ilory 
As it floats out on the breeze, 
Rich in legend, song and story, 
(Jn the land and on the seas. 
Par above the shining river, 
Over mountains, gorge and glade, 
With a fame that lives forever. 
Floats the r.anner l'.ets\ made. 

"When at last her needle rested. 
And her cherished task was done. 
Went the banner, love invented. 
To the Cam]) <if Washington. 
And the g.allant Continentals, 
In the morning light arrayed 
Stood in ragged regimentals 
Neath the Banner Betsy made. 

Ilow'thev cheered it, and it> maker. 
They, the Gallant Sons of Mars; 
How they blessed the little Quaker 
.\nd her flag of Stripes and Stars, 
'X'eath its folds no foeman scorning 
( ilistened ba\iinets or l)la<le. 



Walks and Talks .Ihout Historic Boston. 

And tlic breezes uf the iiKiiniiiy 
lilessed the ISaniier Betsy made. 

Years have passed but still in glory, 
With a pride we love to see, 
Laureled with a Nation's story, 
Waves the emblem of the free 
From the rugged pines of Northland 
In the ever-deepening glade, 
In the land of sunny Southland 
Floats the I'lanner lletsy made. 

Xow she sleeps, whose fingers flying. 
With a heart to freedom true, 
Mingled colors, bright, undying. 
Fashioned stars on fields i.)f l.>lue. 
It will lack for no defenders 
When the foreign foes invade. 
For our Nation rose to splendor 
'Neath tlie Banner Betsy made." 



^'Author unknown. 



tCSf lairing of iFoicign a^crrrnarics bp Cnslanti 
tEo Smbjiisatc amrrira 

A new and ominous lij;ht dawned upon King Cieorge and 
his subservient ministers after the events at Lexington and 
Concord. They had boasted before the whole world that they 
would crush rebellion in America, but the task began to assiune 
"gigantic proportions."' To subdue and compel the obedience of 
a people, scattered along a narrow fringe of sea coast oi a 
thousand miles would require an army of several thousand 
men for there w'ere manv natural obstacles to overcome, such 
as rugged hills, large rivers, vast morasses, and heavy wooded 
land almost everywhere. It was diiificult to obtain enough 
liritish soldiers for such a work against a tolerably united 
people, smarting under the wrongs and oppressions of many 
years. The military establishment of Great Britain was 
not strong enough to spare sufificient troops and ships from 
the necessary police force of the kingdom to do it, so they 
began to look for foreign mercenaries in .\merica and Eurojie 
— the savages of our forests and the soldiers of the old world 
despotisms — to aid them in enslaving between two and three 
millions of their best subjects." (Lossing). 

The first application of King George for such troops was 
made to the Empress Catherine of Russia. He thought that 
British gold was omnipotent and that she would gladly loan 
him a few thousand of her "barbarians." Gibbon, the histo- 
rian, wrote in 1775, regarding this action: "We have great 
hopes of getting a body of these 'barbarians' ( Russian ) : the 
ministers, daily and hourly, expect to hear that the business 
is concluded." 

But King George and his ministers received a flat refusal 
from Queen Catherine of Russia, to have anything to do w^ith 
such a nefarious business, "half barbarian," as the British 
King thought her to be. In a letter written by her minister, 
she says: "I am just beginning to enjoy peace, and your maj- 
esty knows that my empire needs repose. There is an im- 
propriety in employing so considerable a body in another 
hemisphere, under a power almost unknown to it, an almost 

221 



^22 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

deprived of all correspondence with its sovereign. Moreover, 
I should not be able to prevent myself from reflecting on the 
consequences which would result for our own dignity, for 
that of the two monarchies and the two nations, from this 
junction of our forces, siiuply to calm a rebellion which i^ 
not supported by any foreign power." 

This sarcastic reply greatly irritated and sttuig King George 
who expected a gracious letter and a ready compliance with 
his request. He sputtered out his indignation in his rapid 
way, and said: "She has not had the civility to answer me in 
her own hand, and has thrown out expressions that may be 
civil to a Russian ear but certainly not to more civilized ones." 

Ilaltled in this attempt, he ne.xt turned to Holland and asked 
her for the loan of a brigade of troops. The great statesman 
of the Netherlands, Van der Capellan, replied : "A commer- 
cial State should avoid quarrels, if possible, and a republic 
should nt-ver assist in making war on a free people." He of- 
fered t(i Inan bjigland a brigade on the condition that it 
shouk.l not serve out of b'urope, which was a polite form of 
(.lenial. 

At last he turned to some of the petty German rulers for 
mercenary troops, and closed the bargain with them in the 
close of the year 1775 and early part of 177(1. These rulers 
were not so scrupulous. They had a surplus of men and their 
treasuries were well nigh bankrupt. These men were disposed 
of by the common law of tr.ade, suppK' an<l demand. "Eng- 
land needed troops, the ( lernian rulers needed money." The 
bargain was a natural one on business ]irinciples : the moralit}' 
of the transaction was quite another affair. The contracting 
parties were the reigning (jovernors of Hesse-Cassell, Hes- 
se-Hanau, P.runswick, .\nhalt, Amspach and W'aldeck, and 
the King of ( Ireat liritain. The trade was made through 
Frederick H. of llesse Cassel I i 7(:k:)- 1 7S5 ) for 22,000 Hes- 
sian soldiers, nmst of them well disciplined. In all 29,807 
Hessians caiue to this country — 17. ,^13 returned — the rest 
either died or remained as citizens. Grants of land in Xova 
.'^cotia were given to manv b\- the Hritish Government. 

Their masters were to receive for each soldier a bounty 
of twenty-two d<illars and .a half, besides an annual subsidy, 
the whole amounting tu a large sum. £ :;.l()l .cwo. The 
I'.riti^b government also agreed to make re^Ntitution for all 
sol<liers who might perish irom conta^iou^ <li>ea^e> while 
being transporteil in ^hins; in engaL;enu'nt>, and during 



JTalks and Talks About Historic Boston. 223 

sieges; ami they were all lei take an oath of allegiance to 
the Britisli monarch, without its interfering with their oaths 
of allegiance to their respective rulers. 

They were, according to the agreement, to constitute a 
corps made up of four battalions of grenadiers, each of four 
companies; fifteen battalions of infantry of five companies 
each, and two companies of Jagers (riflemen), all to be 
well equip])ed with the implements of war. The chief ce^m- 
manders of these troops, best known to Americans, were 
General Baron de Riedesel, General Baron Knyphausen and 
General De Heister. The name of Hessians was given to 
them all, and because they were mercenaries (fighting only 
for pay), they were particularly detested by the Americans. 
The employment of them was a disgrace to the British 
government, and the method used in forcing many of them 
was a crime against humanity. Laborers were seized in 
the fields, mechanics in the workshops, and worshippers in 
the churches and hurried to the barracks, without being 
allowed a parting embrace with their families. The King 
of Great llritain, to avoid complicitv in the horrid work, 
refused to give commissions to German recruiting officers 
(who, it wa'- known to the British ministry intended tei 
impress men). sa\ing; "It. in plain English, amounts to 
making me a kidna])per. which I cannot think a very hon- 
orable occupation." All Europe cried "Shame!" and 
Frederick the Great of Prussia, took every occasion to 
express his contempt for the "scandalous man-traffic" of 
his neighbors. A\'henever anv of these troops were com- 
pelled to pass through any part of his dominions, he 
claimed the usual toll for so many head of cattle, since, as 
he said, they had been sold as such.'^' ■■' * Without these 
troops the war in America would have been of short dura- 
tion : with them, the British were not successful. A part 
of them under Riedesel went to Canada in the spring of 
1776, to assist in driving the republicans out of that 
province, .\nother part under Knyphausen and Delleister 
joined the P.ritish army under General Howe, before New- 
York, in the summer, and had their first encounter with 
the patriots on Long Island." 

Washington's brilliant stroke against the Hessians at 
Trenton, is one of the bright spots in Revolutionary his- 
torv. After a sharp conflict of thirty-five minutes the 
Hessians were defeated and dispersed, and Colonel Rahl 



324 Walks mill Talks .Ihniil IJistoiic Boston. 

was iiiortallv wounded. The main body in trying to escape 
were intercepted by Col(_>nel Hand of the Continental Army. 
The frii^htened Germans tlirew down their arms and begged 
for mercy. The victor\- for tlie .\niericans was complete, 
and would Iia\e Ijeen nmrc decisive had not General Gates 
been wilfulh^ disobedient. .\^ it was, Washington, with 
his small force ni two ihoiisanci men, w(jn all the glory 
wdiich grcatlv inspirited the |iatriots. 

The .\mericans did not lose a single man and only two 
were slightly wounded: William Washington, who later 
served with distinction in the Campaign in the South, and 
James Alonroe, afterwards President of the L'nited States. 
The spoils of victory were almost a thousand prisoners. 
twelve hu.ndred small arms, six brass field pieces and all 
the German standards. This bold stroke of Washington's 
puzzled the I'.ritish leaders, alarmed the Tories, and dis- 
sipated the terror which had been felt in the jiresence of 
the Hessians, as in\ incible Tcn.ips." 



&amurl aDiims 

llistfirians have iiixcn many appellations to this famous 
man and son of Boston, but none seem more fitting than these 

TIIK MAN OF THE PEOPLE and 
THE IvVTIfl-.R OF Tril'. AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 

He was born on the idth of Septeiuber 17.22 in a large 
house on i'nrchase Street which was then the water front. 
His father was a wealth)- brewer who took an active part 
in politics and with twenty other substantial citizens of the 
North and South Ends, organized a Club, the members of 
which used to meet and lay their plans for introducing cer- 
tain persons into places of trust ami jmwer. It was called 
the "Caulkers" Club." as it included a number of ship caulk- 
ers. Samuel .^dams, senior was a man of great influence 
in the tcnvn. He had been a deacon in the ( )ld -South Church, 
and it was through his efforts that the New South Society 
was established and the House of Worship built on Church 
Green, .Summer .Street. He was a Justice of the Peace and 
a .Selectman, and the politicians of his day resorted to his 
house on Purchase Street to lay their plans for the coming 
election. It was in such an atmosphere that our .Samuel 
Adams of Revolutionary fame was brought up, and his after 
life shows that he made good use of the training thus re- 
ceived. Like many other boys of his age and class, he at- 
tended the lloston Latin School, which was taught bv that 
celebrated Alaster, John Lovell. .■\t that time the School was 
located on School Street directly in the rear of King's 
Chapel. We know that he was an earnest and diligent stu- 
dent, for he entered Harvard College in 17,'^fi at the early age 
of fourteen anrl graduated in 1740. the fifth in a class of 
twenty-two. Not being content with an A. 1',., he returned 
to study for a Master's de.gree, which he obtained, and in 
1743 in the very presence of Governor Shirley, he declaimed 
in Latin, to the effect that it was "lawful to resist the Supreme 
Magistrate if the Commonwealth cannot otherwise be pre- 
served." His father, through his connection with the "Land 




Samuel Adams 



Walks ami Talks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. -'-7 

ilank Scheme" met with ijreat hnancial losses, so that at his 
death in 1748, he left little but the house on Purchase Street, 
which was fast becomin.ti" rusty for want of proper means to 
keep it in proper repair. "In i/f^^. Samuel Adams, because 
of his .E^reat financial straits, was made one of the Collectors 
of the Town of Boston, an office sje'i^'rallv li^iven tn citizers 
who had seen better days. This position gave him wide ac- 
quaintance amons; all classes of the citizens and was of ajreat 
political value to him." 

John Adams thus wrote of his kinsman: "Samuel Adams 
to my certain knowledge, frum 1758 made it his constant rule 
to watch the ri-^e of c\ery l)rilliant .genius to seek his ac- 
([uaintance. to court his friendshiji, to cultivate his natural 
feelin.t;s in fa\Tir of his native cnuntrv. and in warn him 
against the hostile dc-igiw nf ( Ireat liritain. Through his 
influence, four brilliant \nuiig men came to the front and left 
their indelible imjircss on the history of this country. They 
were John Hancock. I )r. juseph \\'arren, Josiah (Juincv, 2d, 
and John Adams. lie had great political sagacity." jdlm 
Adams also tells how ."^amiiel Adams directed the politics of 
the town of Iloston. lie sa\s: "] Icirned this <la\ that the 
Caucus Club meets at certain times in the garret of Tom 
Dawes, the Adjutant of the Iloston Regiment. He has a large 
house, and a movable partition in his garret, which he takes 
down and the whole clul) meets in one room. There the\' drink 
flip and smoke tobacco till yin\ cannot see from one end <if 
the garret to the other. They choose a Moderator, who puts 
(luestions to the \'ote regularly: and Selectmen. Assessors, 
Collectors, \\'ardens, Firewards and Representatives are re.gu- 
larly chosen here, before they are chosen in the town." But 
.Samuel Adams did not come intf) general prominence in the 
town until I7f'i4, when he was apjiointed one of a committee 
of five to prepare instructions for the representatives just 
elected to the General .Assembly. The other members of the 
committee were eminent citizens, but Samul Adams was the 
one who drafted the instructions. In that document, the first 
of his writings of which a trace remains, there is found a 
year before Patrick Henrv's \'irginia Resolutions, the first 
public denial of the right of the British Parliament to tax 
the Colonies without their consent, and the first suggestion, 
also, of the union of the Colonies for redress of grievances. 
These instructions produced a great efifect and the provincial 
policv was basei! on these lines. 



^-ii"' Walks Olid Talks About Historic Boston. 

1 II- orL^anizeil iiun-iniiMiilatK ni societies and encour- 
aged the L'lilonists to make and nse their own goods, which 
dealt a hea\'y l)l(i\\ to l-'.ngh^li merchants and nianufac- 
ttirers. It was his idea that caused circular letters to be sent 
to the other Colonies, asking for their support, and later 
brought about a L'nion to resist I British taxation and tyranny. 
He kept up a running and constant tight against Bernard, the 
Governor, and tlutchinson. his lieutenant. An effort was 
made to deport Adams to England, there to stand trial for 
treason, but this pnived abortive, llernard, th _■ ( lovernor. 
was soon after recalled, leaving Hutchinson, acting Governor. 
Another .grievance was furnished .\dams when two infantry 
re.ginients arrived in Boston in the fall of I7G(S, to enforce 
the decrees of I'arliament. This, as we have elsewhere seen. 
finally led to the Boston Massacre. 

We ha\e alluded elsewhere to that witty old Tory of 
Boston in those da\-s of the Revolution, the Rev. Matthew 
Byles. 

He met Samuel Adams as he was walking home the night 
of the latter's famous interview with Governor Hutchinson. 

In his address to the Governor, Adams stated that three 
thousand people in the Old South were waiting for the ver- 
dict of the Governor in relation to the removal of the British 
troops from the town to Castle William. 

The Rev. Alatthew Byles, it is said, asked ^Ir. Adams, 
"\\'hy he wotildn't be just as well ]>leased to lie ruled bv one 
tyrant three thousand miles away as by three thotisand 
tyrants only one mile away?'' Mr. .\dams" reply to this 
Yi'itticism has never been reported. 

Three years and a half later, Governor Hutchinson wrote 
as follows of Samuel Adams: "They (the Legislature) have 
for their head, one of the members from Boston, who was the 
first person that openly in any public assembly declared for 
absolute independence, and who, from a natural obstinacy of 
temper, and from many years' practice in politics, is, perhaps, 
as well qualified to excite the people to any extravagance in 
theory and practice, as any per.son in .\merica. When- 
ever there appears to be a disposition to any conciliating 
measures, this person, by his art and skill, prevents any efifect, 
sometimes by exercising his talents in the newspapers, at 
other times by o])en o]>position. and this sometimes in the 
House, where he h;is defeated e\ cry attempt, as often as any 
has been made." 



IFalks and Talks .Ihuiil Historic lUtsloii. 229 

There is not the sH.L;litcst tluiibl Inil that Sam Adams hy 
his writings in the "Ciazette," by his speeches in the Town 
Meetings, and his work in the Assembly, kept the issues of 
independence constantly before the minds of the people. He 
wrote "Let associations and combinations be cver\- where set 
lip to considt and recover onr just rights." 

Parliament retained the tax nn tea. Adam> rexihed to 
combat it, and liis efforts in this directidn are tnlil in the 
article on the IJoston Tea Part\-. "That act left the Prov- 
ince, the town of Boston, in <jpen rebellion against (Ireat 
Britain. Then followed that retaliatcjry measure, the Boston 
Port Bill. The effect of the appeals which Adams sent out 
at this time to the several Provincial Assemblies for co- 
operation was magical. From Xew Hampshire to Georgia,, 
the watchwnnl was, "Boston must be regarded as suffering 
in the connnon cause." Expressions of sympathy and help 
poured in from e\ery (piarter. Meanwhile General Gage had 
arrived in Boston with five regiments of British troops, as 
Military (iovernor, replacing Governor Hutchinson. He 
prorogued the Assembly to meet in June in Salem. Adams 
was so busy with his corres])ondence that he did not arrive 
until late and the Tory members of the Assemblv circulated 
the report that he had been arrested, (')nce arrived, he lost 
ni;i time in getting at work and gave a signal proof of his 
political ability. A great crisis was at hand and a larger 
numlier of representatives had gathered than ever before, 
many of whom were confessed tories. The work before the 
Assemblv was the nomination of delegates to the Conti- 
nental Congress, and it was all imi)ortant that the right men 
should be chosen. Adams saw that tlie preparations must be 
made in profound secrecw If a hint of their proposed plan 
should reach General Gage, he would instantly dissolve the 
Assemblv and that would mean the failure of ever\-thing. A 
committee of nine was chosen to take the initiation and 
Adams was made Chairman. The majority of the committee 
were patriots, but there were some tories. and some doubtful, 
and these he deceived into in;iction. He allowed the talk to 
run for peace and concord. I Ic lulled the tories into a feel- 
ing of confidence, so much so. that a member of the com- 
mittee, one of the doubtful ones, left for his home in Taun- 
ton, and then .Adams set to work in the open house. He 
held secret caucuses at night, where he gathered and drilled 
his men. .\t first there were but five, but in two days the 



2.^0 Walks and Talks .Iboiit Historic Boston. 

nunilHT hail incrra^cd to more than 30. Pn-sciitly he had a 
full niajdrity in hand and the work was done. ( )n the 17th 
of June, 1774. just a year before the I'attle of I'.unker liill. 
his trap being ready, he sprung it. The I'onimittee on the 
State of the Province was called tn make its rejjort. .\dams, 
as Chairman, suddenly gave orders to the doorkeepers ti.> 
lock the doors of the house, and to let no one in. or out. 
Then, before the bewildered tories C(juld gather their wits, he 
introduced resolves ]5roviding for the api)ointnient of James 
Bowdoin, Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, John Adams 
and Robert Treat Paine, as delegates to the Colonial Assem- 
bly, September 1st, at Philadeli)hia The House was in an 
uproar, tories and others remonstrated, \ehenienth. Iiut in 
vain, for the majority stood hrni. Realizing that the\- liad 
been tricked, the Tories attempted to leave tlie hall. As the 
doorkee])er, beset on all sides, began to weaken, Adams took 
the key from him, anil put it in his pocket, and the debate 
went on. < ine Tory member, feigning sickness, managed to 
escajH-, and sent word to lieneral ( iage, who sent his Secre- 
tary with a hastily scrawled order of prorogation. But the 
door was locked and the ke\' could not be had, and so the 
Secretary read his order to the crowd, that pressed about the 
stairs. .Seeing that resistance was useless, the Tories suc- 
cumbeil and the doubtful ones went over to the whigs. The 
resolves ])assed with but n ".\'oes"' and then the doors of 
the room were opened, the Secretary admitted, and the man- 
date of porrogation submitted to. "It was ,\dams' greatest 
triumph, both as ]iatriot and politician. ( ieneral Cage had 
special instructions to arrest the Chief of the Revolution, at 
the ]3roper time, which never seemed to come. ( )fYers of 
rank and riches were made tf) .\dams, which he S])urned as 
insults. Ceneral Cage, through an agent, sought to buv ofif 
the opposition of Samuel Adams. The latter indignantly re- 
turned this answer: 'T trust I have long since made my peace 
with the King of Kings. Xo personal consideration .shall in- 
duce me to abantlon the righteous cause of my country. 
Tell (leneral Cage it is the advice of Sanuiel .\ilams that he 
no longer insult the feelings of an exasperated people." 

.Much as the I'rivy Council hated Adams, thev did not 
dare to sign orders for his arrest and trial. Adams was a 
jKjor m.Hii and when tlie time came for him to go to Phila- 
delphia, there arose the ijuestion of funds. I'rom 1763 to 
1774 he had no income save his ^alarv as ( lerk of the .\s- 



Walks and Talks .Ihaiil Jlistorif Bosloii. -'.ii 

senibly of £ioo pt-r aiinuin. ( )ii this, his wife, 1)\ frii<;al 
housekeeping-, inaintaiiu'd a drccnt and comfortable hi)iiu-, 
but there was little surplus fnr a])parel. and as deleg^ate to 
Congress it was fitting that Adams should be properly 
dressed. l*'or himself his own red cloak would have done 
amply well, but his friends had nther ideas on the matter. 
One evening as .\dams was sitting with his famih- at supper. 
a knock came at the dixir, announcing a well known tailnr. 
who proceeded tn take his measure, but woidd sa\- no word 
of his business. In a few minutes came a hatter, the most 
a|)proved in town, and after him a shoe maker and others, all 
of whom refused to tell whose orders thev were obeying. A 
few days later a large trunk arrived, containing a complete 
suit I if clothes, a red cloak, shoes and cane, a cocked hat, and 
all the other articles of weai'ing apparel of the finest ciuality 
and style, ."-^o attired .\dams, on .\ugust lo, 1774, left lios- 
ton for Philadel])hia. .\s .\dams was alone in 1768 when he 
declared himself in favor of inde])endcnce. so he was at this 
session of Congress in the I'all of 1774. I'} the "Conserva- 
tives" he was considered "an artful and designing man." who 
courted the lower classes for popid;irity. 

The fact was. .\dams w;is in ad\ance of his timo: he liad 
the vision >if a proi)liet. and he received, for the time being, 
the abuse frecpiently bestowed on jirophets. Charles Tom- 
son was the .Secretary of this h'irst t'ontinental Ciingress, a 
native of Ireland, who, in early life, had emigrated to Dela- 
ware, but at this time was a citizen <if I'liiladelphia. a man 
of character an<l fortime. I'.eiijamin Franklin was his firm 
friend. As he was alighting from his chaise with his bride, 
a messenger came to him from the Congress saying. "Thev 
want vou at the Carpenter's Hall to keep the records of their 
proceedings, as you are ex])ert at the business." He conii>lied 
with their request, and for fifteen years was the sole secretary' 
of that bodv. Of him John .Xdan'is said: "He is the .Samuel 
Adams of Philadelphia.' tlu' life of the cause of liberty." 

The l-"irst e'ontinental Congress adjourned on the -'dth of 
October. 1774, without taking any action toward independ- 
ence. As the members were about to depart for their sev- 
eral homes, they were impressed with the belief that war was 
inevitable. P.efore separating they spent a social evemng 
together at the City Tavern in Philadelphia. They were all 
bold in their utterances, but Samuel .\dams in his address 
showeil his indomitable courage as he said: "I would advise 



232 Walks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

pt•r^i^^ting• in uuv slrui;gle for liljerty, though it were revealed 
from Heaven that nine hundred and ninety-nine were to 
perish, and only one of a thousand to survive and retain his 
libert}". (.)ne such freeman must possess more virtue, and 
enjoy more happiness than a thousand slaves; and let him 
propogate his like and transmit to them what he hath so 
nobly preserved." As Lossing has well said of these days, 
"Of what they (the Continental Congress) said, we know 
WT\ little, for the sessions were held in secret, and there 
WL-rc no professional newspaper reporters in those days. 
What they did, we all know. The State papers put forth by 
them were models of their kind, and commanded the admi- 
ration i.if the leading statesmen of Europe." Adams returned 
to I'.iiston. again took up the helm of the town meetings, 
ready to go again to Philadelphia the following May, to the 
session of Congress. .Meantime eanu' the Battle of Lex- 
ington. 

The night before the Ijattle Sanuiel .Kdanis and T<ihn 1 Ian- 
cock, his fellow delegate, were stopping at the house of Rev. 
Jonas Clark at Lexington. Gage, backed bv his strong mili- 
tary, force, had made his preparations to seize those "rebel 
leaders." Adams and Hancock had been warned of Gage's 
plans, but paid but little attention to the matter. The Clark 
house was guarded that night Ijy a Sergeant and eight men, 
when about nndnight of April 1 8th, there suddenly appeared 
on horseback. Paul Revere, the patriot chieftain. The Sleepy 
Sergeant, only half aroused, protested against the noise Re- 
vere was making. Adams and Hancock were c[uickly 
aroused and in a few minutes they were down on Lexington 
Common, where the nun of Ca])tain Parker's Company 
were loading their nuiskets. An hour later, these two dele- 
gates were walking across the fields to Woburn. Thev heard 
the reports of the muskets, and Adams knowing that this 
meant a conflict and that both sides were now committed, 
exclaimed, "What a glririous morning is tliisi" Even after 
this conflict. Congress wris not readv U> declare for inde- 
pendence. General (-age (jflered i>ar(lon to all who would 
lay down their arms, "except Samuel Adams and John Han- 
cock, whose afifences are of too flagitious a nature to admit 
of any other consideration than condign punishment." 
Adams' comment on this exception was characteristic: 
"Gage." he said, "has made me respectable, by naming me, 
first, among those who .ai-e to receive n(-i favor fi-om him." 



ll'alks and Talks .Ihoiit Historic Bostu)i. 23.^ 

In SeptenilnT. 1775, tlu- third Congress convened. The 
events of tlie four previous months had tiUMied the popular 
mind toward independence, still there was no declaring- on 
the part of Congress. 

But in April, 177'!. the tidal wave in favni- of independ- 
ence swejH the C(iuntr\-. The Colonists, everywhere, had 
been signing the "Association Tests" and sending them to 
their delegates assembled in Congress. The radicals there 
grew bolder and stronger. \'irginia stood shoulder to 
shoulder with Massachusetts. On tlie 5th of June, 1776. 
Richard Henr\' I.ee of Virginia, offered his famous Resolu- 
tion, declaring the ("olonies "free and independent States." 
We give the text of this Resolution : "That these United 
Colonies are, and of right ought to l)e, free and independent 
States; that thev are absolved fn.im all allegiance to the 
British crown: and that all political connectinn. between 
them and ( Ireat liritain i^. .■md (jught to 1)e. tntally dis- 
solved." This Resolution he enforced by one of the most 
brilliant and powerful displays of refineil and fiircil>le elo- 
quence ever exhibited in this cmuitry. 

At this time the connnittee \\a> appninteil ti j ilraft tlie 
Declaration of Independence. Lee was unfortunately in A'ir- 
ginia, being called thither ])\- the sudden illness of some 
member nf hi'- faniiK, and thus he was deprived of the honi>r 
of being placed at the head of that Committee, but he re- 
turned in time tn sign that gloridus State Paper. In all his 
labors for ln(le|)en<lence he was ably seconded by his elo- 
quent and gifted fellow delegate. Patrick Henry. For three 
weeks the Resolution of Lee was debated and by Jnly the 
fight was ended and the great victory won. As one has 
said: "the signing of the Declaration of Independence was, 
to Adani^, the crnwning triumph eif liis entire career. All 
that hail gone before was but ])reparatory to it. the }ears 
that followed while he served in Congress, and at the close 
of the War when he returned to Massachusetts and to his 
own place in town and State C(iuld add nothing to it." In 
1788 Adams and Hancock were delegates to the .State Con- 
vention for the ratification of the Federal Constitution. 
.Adams considered that document as centralizing too much 
power in the Federal Government, holding the same view 
as did Richard Henry Lee of \'irginia. Adams was always 
"the man of the people," the great apostle of democracy. He 
did not believe power should be separated from the jteople. 



-'.U Ji'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

Kiiuwing his strung views on this point inanv feared 
his hostility to the proposed Constitution. WitJiout his 
nifluence it cmild not be ratified. The endorsement of 
Hancock was easily (ihtained. Adams would not ac- 
(juiesce until he knew the will of the people. If they de- 
manded the Ciinstitutiiin their will was law to him. .\t 
the "(ireen Dragon 'ra\ern" cm I'nion .Street, a meeting 
of Boston mechanics was held. Here Resolutions were 
])assed favoring the aduptidn of the Constitution, and a 
Committee appointed to carr\ them t(j Adams. The in- 
cident is thus descrilied li\ 1 )aniel Webster. ".^amuel 
-\dams received the Rcm ■hitii in> frcjm the hands of Paul 
Revere. '"Hnw many mechanics." said Mr. .\dams "were 
at the Creen Dragon Ta\ern when the Resolutions were 
passed?" "Mcirt', sir, than the ( ireen Dragon could liold." 
"And where were the re^t, .Mr. l\e\ere?" "In the streets, 
sir." ".Vnd how many were in the streets?" "Mure, sir, 
than there are stars in the '•ky." This satisfied the old 
jjatriot and he cast his \cite fnr ratification. In 1781^ 
Adams was elected Lieut. Governor of Massachusetts, 
John Hancock, being elected (i(i\ernor. Thev were the 
first in their respecti\e positinns under the Federal Con- 
stitution. These two old veter.ins served in this capacity 
mitil 170.V when Hancock died and Adams was then 
I'lected g<i\erniir. The old cumpaniuns of Adams of pre- 
rev<ilutionary days. ( )ti^, lushing, Molineux. (Jm'ncv and 
Warren had all passed away and the death of Hancock 
seemed to lia\e left him ah inc. He was 72 \ears of age 
when he assumed the < "h i\-eru<ir's chair. The Federals 
ripjjosefl hiiu. but he was succe-sftdh re-elected and 
finally retired in 17117 '"I'l lived i|uietly with his family on 
^\'inter .Street. Avhere he was often seen walking aliont his 
garden or seated on his roonn- ]ii;izza. The end came 
peacefully on the Jd of ( )ctober, \Xni„ at the age of 81. .\ 
memorial tablet marks the site of Samuel Adams' home on 
Winter Street. 

In i8g8 a rugged bciulder of Ro.xbury Pudding Jstone 
was placed over his grave in the Granary I^.urying (inunid. 
.•\ bronze tablet on it bears this inscri])tion : 

"Here lies buried Samuel Adams, a signer 

of the 1 )eclaration of Independence, ( io\ernor 

of the Comnionw e.dlh, ,1 leader of men 

and .an ,'irdeut patrKJt." 



Walks and I'alks About Historic Boston. -,f5 

"Samuel Adams was iiDt an cloqiifnt oratur, altlii iU.L;li a 
forceful and convincing speaker, but he, above all his con- 
temporaries, glorified with his incorruptible poverty, the 
Revolution which he was the first to excite and the last 
to abandon. lie devoted his life to the diffusiiin ami 
strengthening of opinions in favor of a pure democracy as 
the only means i<\ securing permanency to the insiitutiou 
which he loved. lie was the grand embodiment nf the 
spirit of the Xew F.ngland Town Meeting." 



Pdiil Ecbrrc 
Tlfjr asriciiiT' of ti)c amrrican UrboUition 

This earnest and energetic [latriut was liorn in Boston, 
January 8, 1735. and came of a very honorable Huguenot 
family. His father. Ajiollns Rivuire came to Boston from the 




island uf Guernsey at the early at;e of thirteen and was ap- 
]]renticed to John Coney to learn the ,f,roldsmith's trade. 
"After he had established himself as a gold and silversmith 
he married Deborah Hichborn, and the third child of this 
union was Paul Revere, craftsman, artist and patriot." He 
recei\ed a common school education, attending- the famous 
"( )1(I .\orth (Grammar Schoril." which stood on North Ben- 



Walks and Folks About JUstorif Bostitu. ^.^7 

nett Street, and upon leaving school he entered his lather's 
shop as an apprentice. When only 27 years old he had the 
reputation of heing one of the most skilful gold and silver- 
smiths in the town of I'loston, and as we shall see in the 
course of his Ijusiness life, he Ijranched out into other lines 
of work, "lie possessed a natural taste for drawing and be- 
came very skilful in the use of the graver. Many are the 
cups, spoons, pitchers, tankards and other articles of beau- 
tiful patterns made by him, and still owned by New England 
families. .Some are in everyday use, all are treasured relics." 
I le taught himself the art of engraving on copper plates, and 
man\ specimens of his handiwork in this line are still in ex- 
istence, lie had quite a sense of humor and many of his pic- 
tures were political caricatures, appropriate to the time in 
which he lived. He had an active, ardent temperament, and 
was nut wholly satisfied with the quiet life of an engraver, 
and wc find him when quite a young man entering mililar\ 
life and taking part in the Second Expedition against Crown 
J'oint, serving through the campaign as a lieutenant of ar- 
tillery. In 1755, in conjunction with Josiah Flagg, he pub- 
lished a collection of Psalm tunes, which were advertised in 
the I'lOSton Gazette. Five years afterwards a similar book 
was issued called, "The New England Psalm Singer.'' The 
00 pages of music were engraved by Paul Revere, as was 
also the curious frontispiece representing some men in full 
dress and powdered wigs, who were seated about a table 
singing". The advertisement addressed to the suliscriljers for 
this book is both quaint and interesting. 

In 1765 he joined the "Sons of Liberty," being one of the 
first members of that famous order, and this may be said to 
be the beginning of his long patriotic career. This organization 
intimidated the Stamp Act distributors and successfully op- 
])osed that act. Revere was also an active member of the 
"Long Room Club," which met in the Imilding on the corner 
(if C'ourt Street and I'ranklin .\venue, where the elegant bank- 
in,g building of the C)ld Colony Trust Company now stands. 
Me was also a member of the "North End Caucus," which 
held its meetings in the (Ireen Dra.gon Tavern, near the cor- 
ner of Hanover and I'nion Streets. When the Stamp .^ct 
was ve.xing the sjiirits of the good peoi)le of lioston. Revere 
represented it in an allegorical print, which immediately be- 
came very po])ular. He described it as follows: "The odious 




Paul Rerere 



iralL-s ami Tulles . I bout Historic Boston. -M'- 

Stani|i Art if|ii-c-ciUc(l 1)\ llic I )r;i!;<>n. L<iiiln >nlc(l liy Imj.sIoii 
with drawn ^wiird. Tile Colonies, Xuw ^'ork an<l Rhode is- 
land. stippMrt llain|iilcn, New HanipshirL- and \'ir,i,nnia with 
the other L'nited lolonies are also rejiresented. while from 
the 'Liljert) Tree' han.i^s the ( )t¥icer of the (rown." Ae- 
coni])an\in.L;- the pietnre are eleven lines of heroie measure 
of those days, which were written h\- ]\e\ere. showing' him a 
poet as well as an artist. 

The most famous of all his enL;ravin,L;s was the one repre- 




sentinjL;' "The I'.looih Massacre, jjerpetrated in King (State) 
Street, on .March 5. 1770 hy a party of the 29th Regiment." 
This pictiH-e was re|)roduced in Luiidtjn several times, and it 
became a verv popular jiiclure in this country. When the 
first anniversary of the Uoston Massacre was ohserved, he 
was living in a house on North Square, then one of the best 
locations in the town. 

h'roiii the upper \\iiidows of his house he displayed a 
uni<|ue series of transparencies. ( )iie represented the death 
of Christopher Snyder, a second showed the Mas.sacre, and 
the third was an allegorical painting of .\merica triumphant. 
In addition to his goldsmith's trade, which was flour- 
ishing, he tiHik up the practice of dentistry. The ( la- 
zctte for September H). 1768, contained the announcement 
that persons so unfortunate as to lose their teeth, may have 



-Mt) U'ulks and Talks About Historic liostoii. 

them replaceil with artificial mics liy I'anl Revere, wlio learned 
the method of fixiniL;- tlicni from Air. Baker." Two years 
later he again advertises that "he still continues the business 
of a dentist and flatters himself that from the experience he 
has had these two years, that he can fix them as well as any 
surgeon dentist whoever came from London." After the 
battle of Bunker Hill, when (jeneral Warren's body was ex- 
humed from its unmarked grave, Paul Revere was able to 
identif}- it h\" the wire which he had used to fasten an artificial 
tooth. 




So I III ,S7,..7. 



Re\ere, who was a good horseman, hardy and fearless, be- 
came thj conhdential mcsenger of the patriots, and traveled 
thousands nf nuk> on horseback, during those troublous times, 
when railroads and steamlioats were unknown. "Although 
he Iiad a large family to sujiport, he was so constituted as to 
find sufficient leisure to interest himself in all the matters 
pertaining to the public good, watching closeh' the course of 
political events in the pre-revolutionary days. With well con- 
sidered settled opinions, his will was strong ; while his general 
gifts rendered him competent in great emergencies and equal 
to great events. The result was, that in a crisis like that of 
rousing the people to conflict, on the eve of the first struggle 
for our independence, he was the wise counsellor at home, 
and tlie daring actor in the field." 



H'ollcs ami Tiilh-s About llistoiic Ihislon. -M' 

"()n the icStli (if April. 1775, was tlu- mnvt iinjKirt.-iiil ^in^lc 
exploit ill mir Nation's Annals." I.on.s; fellow s account ot it 
is known tlirou.sjhout the length and breadth of the land. W'c 
quote Revere"s own account of the affair. 

"In the fall of 1774, and winter of 1775, T was rme. of up- 
wards of 30, mostly mechanics, who formed themselves into 
a committee for the purpose of watchiiii;' the movements of 
British soldiers, and staining' ever\- intelli.cjence of the move- 
ments of the lories. 

■'In the winter toward the s|)rini.; we frequently took turns, 
two l)v two. to watch the soldiers 1iv patrolling the streets ai 
iii.t,dit. The .'^atiu-da\- ni-ht precedini; the H)th of April, 
about tw-ehe o'clock at niL;ht. the boats belon.ijintj to the 
transports were all launched and towed under the sterns of 
the men-of-war. We likewise found that the .i^renadiers and 
liglit infantry were all taken olT dut\. l-rom these move- 
ments we e.\])ected somethin.L;' serious was to he transacted. 

"1 a.i^reed with Colonel Conant. and some other gentlemen, 
that if the liritish went out by water, we should show two lan- 
terns on the North Church steeple, and if land, one as a sii;- 
nal. for we were a])preliensive it would be ditficnlt to cross 
Charles River, or get over Boston Neck. I then went home, 
took my boots and surtoiit. went to the north part of the town, 
where I kept a boat ; two friends rowed me across the C harles 
River, a little to the eastward, where the 'Somerset' man-of- 
war lay. It was then young flood, the ship was winiling and 
the moon was rising. They landed me on the Charlestown 
side. ' ' I set off iqxm a very good horse. It was 

about tdeveii o'clock. ;ind \er\ pleasant. After 1 had 
passed Charlestown Neck, and got exactly (jpposite 
where Mark was hung in chains, I saw two men on horse- 
liack under a tree. When 1 got near tlieni I discovered 
that thev were British officers. • )ne tried to get ahead of me 
and the other to take me. 1 turned my horse very quick and 
.galloped towards t harlestown .Neck, and then pushed for the 
Medford mad. 

"The one who ch.-ised me endeavoring to cut me off got 
into a clay pond near where the new tavern is now built. I 
.got clear of him and went throu.gh Medford over the bridge 
and up to Menotomy (.Arlington). In Medford I waked up 
the Ca])tain of the Minute Men. and after that I alarmed al- 
most every house till I got to Lexington. At Lexington 1 



24-' JValks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

save the alarm to John Hancock and Samuel Adams at the 
Clark House and then pushed on towards Concord. On the 
way I met some British officers and in an instant was sur- 
rounded by four. They had placed themselves in a straight 
road, that inclined each way ; they had taken down a pair of 
bars on the north side of tlie road, and two of them were 
under a tree in the i)asture. I descried a wood at a small dis- 
tance and made for that. When I got there, out started si.x 
officers on horseback and ordered me to dismount, and thus 
the Midnight Ride came to an end." 

After a prolonged questioning, he was put with four other 
prisoners and marclied back towards Lexington. "When 
within sight of the Town Meeting House, the noise of mus- 
ketry was heard, and the Sergeants in charge of Revere, cut- 
ting the saddle and bridle from the horse, let him go. Revere 
made his way to the Clark House, notified the occupants of 
what had happened and accompanied Hancuck and .\dams 
for a way in their retreat across the fields. Returning then 
for a trunk of papers, he witnessed tlie conflict on the Village 
Green. While he failed to reach Concord as he intended, yet 
the warning he gave them the Sunday previous enabled the 
patriots there to remove some of their valuable stores, so 
that the British inarch was rendered useless." 

The next day Revere was engaged by Dr. ^^'arren, Presi- 
dent of the Committee of Safety, as a messenger to do the 
out door business for that Committee, and so began a new 
series of services for the American Cause. A bill is still 
preserved of the charges "for riding from .\pril 21, 1775 to 
May 7 — 17 days. He had made his earlier journeys, even the 
long ride to Philadelphia, witiiout hope of reward, Init Revere 
bad a family to support, whom patriotism alone could not feed. 
The promptness with wliich his bills were audited and paid is 
proof of the value placed upon liis services bv the Commit- 
tee." 

An amusing tradition connected with the famous ride to 
Lexington is preserved by the Revere family. "While the 
party was on the way to the boat, that was to take them across 
the river to Charlestown, it was remembered that nothing had 
been provided to muffle the sound of the oars against the thole 
]iins. .\ halt was made before a liouse near by, and a cautiouc 
signal Ijrought an answer from a darkened window above. 
Their need was m;tde known and the next mimient a woolen 
I)etticoac exchanged it^ natural office for a place in history." 



IValks and Talks About Historic Boston. -'4.? 

After his famous ride to Lexington, he did not return to 
Boston, but made his home for awhile in Charlestown until 
the Evacuation of Boston a few months later. He brought 
his wife and family over, leaving his goldsmith's shop in 
charge of a friend. In May, 1775, a Convention of the Pro- 
vincial Congress made a contract with Revere to print notes 
(paper money) amounting to £100,000. "So great was the 
demand that June 5th he was urged "to attend to the business 
of stamping the notes for the soldiers all the ensuing night, 
if he can, and to finish them with the greatest care and dis- 
patch." Other contracts were likewise awarded him by the 
Provincial Government and the Continental Congress. 
Powder was a scarce article in the early days of the war. In 
November, 1775, the only mill in operation was in Philadel- 
phia, the ])roperty of Oswell Eve. 

This month Revere was to start for Philadelphia with mes- 
sages for the Continental Congress and "he was urged to 
make an investigation and report on the best and most expe- 
ditious methods of erecting powder works and manufacturing 
powder in this country. He had a letter of introduction to 
Mr. Eve, requesting him to give Air. Revere such information 
as would enable him to construct the business on his return 
home." But monopolists were as greedy in 1775 as in 1916, 
and Mr. Eve did not believe in giving information to one 
who might prove to be a powerful competitor. "He allowed 
Mr. Revere tn walk through the establishment, and that, to 
Revere, witli his acute observation, knowledge of chemistry 
and mechanics, was quite enough. He had a full idea of the 
process when he left, and Mr. Eve's monopoly was ended." 
In two months the old powder mill at Canton was rebuilt and 
was soon in active operation. 

When the British were coniiielled to evacuate Boston, they 
endeavored in various ways to render the cannon which they 
left behind u.seless. This they did by breaking off tranions 
and in other ways disabling them. ".Vt the personal request 
of General Washington. Revere repaired the damage done, 
and invented a new type of gun carriage for them." Mean- 
while Revere was serving in the army. In March. 1776. he 
was made a Major in the Masachusetts Infantry, and was 
transferred to the Artillery, and made Lieutenant Colonel, 
and stationed at Castle Island, and .September I. I77<'^, he had 
a regular command there. He had a busy life m the army, 



-M4 Walks ami Talks .Iboiit Historic Boston. 

\\■a^ prcbident of a nunil)tr uf L'ourt Aiartials, had cuiiiniaml 
of the troops that escorted Stark's prisoners. He took an 
active part in the unfortunate Penobscot Expedition, and aii 
attempt was made to hold him resjjonsible for its faihu'e. He 
demanded a regular cnurt martial, which was ordered. He 
received a full acquittal. 

The war was now nvcr and his services were no longer 
needed and he engaged in man\- enterjjrises. He established 
a fdimdry for the manufacture of cannon, iron ware and 
church bells. This was in i/g^. The first church bells cast 
by him were for the Second Church in Boston and these are 
>till in existence. One of his bells at St. I'aul's Church, New- 
huryi^ort, has been in con.tinuous service until within a few 
years and is now preserved as a relic. 

.\t tile death of ( iencral Washington he was made one of a 
committee of three Past (irand Masters of Masonry to write 
a letter of condolence to .Mrs. Washington and to solicit from 
her a l(_ick uf the hero's ]);iir. This re(|uest was granted and 
Re\-ere executed a i^ulden uin about four inches in height 
for the leception uf the relic. He was one of the pall bearers 
at the observance of Washington's funeral by the Masons 
of lloston and ])repared the insignia, a large white marble 
urn nil a pedestal coverecl with a ])all and b.'iving suitable em- 
blems. 

At his works in Cantcjii were made the plates fnc feet long, 
three feet wide and i ine <|ii;irter of an inch thick for the 
boilers of Robert Iniltciii's .Steam Pngine. He perfected a 
ju'dcess for preparing cop|ier fui- use in bolts and spikes, etc., 
fur naval purpuses. He furnished the sheathings and fittings 
foi- the C S. l-'rigate "Constitution" (Old Ironsides) and 
f(.ir manv other gallant vessels. His business was remunera- 
tive. His foundry was the onl\ one in the country which 
could turn out sheet co]i))er. 

"The Massachusetts Charitable .Mechanics .\ssuciation was 
founded largeK' thrtiugh his instnimentality in iJw.S and he 
was its first President, and remaineil in that jiusitioii four 
vears. In 1794-1800 he was (irand Master cif the (irand 
i.odge of Masons of Massachusetts and in 171)5 assisted in 
laving the corner stone of the State Ihuise in Poston. It has 
iusth- been said of him "that during the l^tevolution he held 



Walks and Talks .Ihoiit Ilisturic Boston. 245 

the swDi-d in one hand and tlic inij)kMiicnt of mechanical trade 
in the other, and both of them snliservient to the great Cause 
of American liberty." That little group of patriots who led 
the people of Boston, and, to a large extent, of all the Colonies 
in Uu- struggle fur indcpencU'ncc. wen- WMndrrful men. Their 




ni II . I.:„,,lrlln 



eneigy. wiMJuni and fertility ui res(]uice weri- niii>t remark- 
able and Paul Revere, liy his courage, his ])atriotism, and his 
versatility stands out most prominent. 

Revere died May 10. i<SiS. at the age of 8_:5 years. lie wa,-. 
l)\iried in the ( lraiiar\- I'liirial ( iround and near the grave of 



^4*1 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

Peter Faneuil, a fellow Huguenot. His last years were pros- 
perous and he enjoyed in large measure the love and esteem 
of his fellow countrymen. 

■".So through the night rode I'aul Revere 
And so through the night went his cry of alarm, 
To every Middlesex village and farm. 
A cry of defiance, and not of fear, 
A viiice in the darkness, a knock at the door. 
And a word that shall echo forevermore ! 
For home on the night wind of the past. 
Through all our history to the last 
In the hour of darkness, and peril and need. 
The people will waken and listen to hear 
The hurrying hoof beats of that steed. 
.\nil the iiiidniglit message of Paul Revere!'' 



Kcniamin jfranKIin 

i'jenjaniin I''ranklin was one of the most illustrious men 
of America; a philosopher, a scientist, a diplomat, a vigor- 
ous writer, and a patriot who loved his country supremely. 
The historian, Bancroft, says of him: "Not half of his mer- 
its have been told. He was the true father of the American 
Union. It was he who went forth to lay the foundativ>n of 
that great design at .\lhany, and in New York he lifted up 
his voice. It was I-'ranklin who suggested the Congress of 
1774, and l)ut for his wisdom, and the confidence that wi.s- 
dom inspired, it is a matter of doubt, whether the Congress 
W'ould have taken effect. It was P'ranklin who suggested 
the bond of the Union, which binds the States from Florida 
to Maine. He was the greatest diplomat of the Eighteemh 
century. He never spoke a word too soon, he never spoke 
a word too much, he never failed to speak the right word at 
the right season." 

He was born in Boston, Januarv 6, 1706, ( )ld ."^tvle en 
Milk ."Street, opposite the r)ld South Church, where he was 
Ijaptized, and worshipped while a resident of Boston. His 
father, who emigrated from England in 1685, was a tallow- 
chandler, and Benjamin was the fifteenth of seventeen chil- 
dren and named for his uncle who came to this country in 
1705- 

"The main house resembled in form many of the tene- 
ments of the olden time. Its front upon the street was rude- 
ly clapboarded, and the sides and rear were protected from 
the inclemencies of a New England climate by large rough 
shingles. On the street it measured about twenty feet : and 
on the sides, (the westerly of which was bounded by the 
passageway and contained the door way, approached by two 
steps,) the extreme length of the building, including a 
wooden leanto used as a kitchen, was about thirty feet. In 
height the house was three stories, the upper being an attic, 
which presented a pointed gable toward the street. In 
front, the second story and attic projected somewhat into 
the street over the principal story on the ground floor. 

On the lower floor of the main house, there was one room 




n, iiniuin, I'ranlli 



Il'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. .249 

only. Tills, wliich prol)aI)ly scrxcd the Franklins as a par- 
lor and sittini;- nicini, and alsci for the familv eating rixjni, 
was alxint tAventy feet scuiare. and had tixo windnws niKin 




Hirllipla 



Fnnil.ln,. \ o. IT /' 



the street : and it had, alsu, une upon tlie passaye \va\', so 
near the corner as tci i;i\e the inmates a good view of Wash- 
ington Street. In the centre nf the sontherly side of 
the room was one of those noted large fireplaces, situated 
in a most capacious chimney, which are so well remem- 



250 Walks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

bered as aniooi;- the comforts of old houses: on the left side 
of this was a spacious closet, and on the right, was the 
door, communicating;" with a small entry, in which were 
the stairs to the rounis almxe and to the cellar, the latter 
of which was accessible tcj the street through one of the 
old fashioned cellar doors, situated partly in the sidewalk. 

The second story contained originally but one chamber, and 
in this the windows. <loor. fireplace and closet were similar 
in number and iiosition to thiise in the parlor beneath it. 

Tile attic was also originally one unplastered room and had 
a window in front on the street, and two common attic win- 
dows, one on each side of the roof near the back part of it." 

.^ncli was undoubtedly the condition and appearance of the 
house at the time when the parents of Franklin dwelt within 
its walls, with their large family of children, several of whom 
received their first light beneath the roof ; and such it con- 
tinued about one hundred \ears, after the Franklins left it 
for a house (if their own. at the corner of Hanover and Union 
.Streets." The old house was destroyed by fire on Saturday, 
December oth, 1810, comnuinicated to it from the livery 
stable situated on the corner of Milk and Hawley Streets, 
kejjt by Stephen L. Sleeper. Jt was at this time that the Old 
South Meeting House took fire and was saved by the exer- 
tions of a well known Rostonian, Isaac Harris. Fsq.. for 
which he received a silver testimonial. 

At twelve years of age. Henjamin was apprenticed to his 
elder brother James, a printer and publisher, of the "New 
Kngland Courant," a newsiiajx-r of Pioston. lie was never 
able to gratify his passion for reading. While serving his 
apprenticeship, he tried his skill in literary composition, 
occasionally writing anonymous articles for his brother's 
pa])er which were published and approved. Some political 
articles in the "Courant" offended the legislative assembly of 
the Colony, and James, the publisher, was imprisoned and 
forbidden to issue tiie journal. To elude the prohibition, 
young Benjamin was made the nominal editor, and his in- 
dentures of apprenticeship were temporarily cancelled, .^fter 
the release of his brother he availed himself of this act to 
assert his freedom, and thus he escaped from a position which 
had become irksome in consequence of ill-treatment to which 
his brother had subjected him. Some years later he blamed 
himself for thus taking advantage of his brother's difficulty 
and confessed it was (jne of the errors of his life, b'ranklin 



U'dlks and Talks About Historic Bostcii. -5i 

dccidoil to try his fortune in Xcw \'ork, Inil \va~. obliged to 
keep the matter secret, as his father sided with his brother, 
and would have prevented liis ijoint;. lie suld his books to 
raise a little money, took passa,ije aboard a sloop and with a 
fair wind reached Xew York in three days. 

At the acje of seventeen he found himself in a strange city, 
three hundred miles from home, without any recommenda- 
tion or knowledge of any person in the place, and with very 
little money in his pocket. In New "^'ork he found an old 
printer of Pennsylvania, who, owing to a quarrel with the 
Governor of that Colony, had removed to Xew York. He 
could give Franklin no employment but gave him a letter to 
his son, who he thought could obtain a position for Franklin, 
who started at once by boat for Anil)oy, leaving his chest and 
other tilings to follow him round by sea. His adventures on 
that trip, as related in his Autobiography, are alike interesting 
and amusing. From Amboy he proceeded on foot to Burling- 
ton, a distance of fifty miles. The last night of that tramp 
he stopped at an inn kept by a Or. Brown whom he found 
very friendly and obliging, and the acquaintance thus begun, 
continued all through his life. W hen he arrived at Burling- 
ton, the boat had left and no (jlher was expected to sail until 
Tues<lay, three days later, but that evening as he was walking 
along the river bank, a boat came along bound for I'hiladel- 
])hia. and he eng.aged ]iassage on her. There was no wind 
so the} roweil all the way to l'hiladel|)hia. where they landed 
Sunday morning at eight o'clock. 

I'ranklin is very minute and ])articular in his description 
of his first entry into that city, douhtlebs having in mind the 
figure he afterwards made there. He was in his working 
clothes with his pockets stuffed with siiirts and stockings. 
He was dirty from being so long on the boat. He was 
fatigued with walking, rowing and the want of sleep r'lid 
withal very hungry. He knew no one and did not know 
where to look for lodgings. His entire cash capital amounted 
to one dollar and one shilling in copper coins, and this shilling 
he insisted the boatman should take for the passage. 

Entering a bake shop he bought three pennies' worth of 
rolls, and having no room in his pockets, he put a roll under 
each arm and eating the other, he proceeded leisurely up 
Market Street, as far as Fourth Street, passing the house of 
Mr. Reed, his future father-in-law. and his bride to be stood 
on the doorsteps smiling at him as he jiassed. 



-'5-' Jl^alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

Through the influence of Mr. Bradford he secured a posi- 
tion with ]\'Ir. Keiner, a printer, and through this connection 
he made the acquaintance of Sir Wilham Keith, Governor of 
Pennsylvania. Tlie Governor was greatly impressed with 
Franklin's appearance and ability and offered to set him up 
in the printing business. He also promised him the State 
printing, and induced Franklin to go to England, and pur- 
chase the necessary materials for establishing himself in the 
printing business. "On reaching London in 1725, F'ranklm 
friund himself entirely deceived in the Governor's promised 
letter of credit and recommendation, and being as before, in 
a strange place, without money or acciuaintance, he went to 
work once more as a compositor." 

He remained in England about a vear and a half and then 
returned to Philadelphia and commenced business as a printer 
and stationer and in 1728 he established a newspaper. He 
]iul)lished his "Poor Richard's Almanac" in 1732, which be- 
came noted for its pithy sayings, some original, but mostly 
taken from various sources, ancient and modern. In 1736 
Ik- was appointed Clerk in the General Assembly of Pennsvl- 
\ania, and the year following was made Postmaster of Phil- 
adelphia. In the French \\''ar of 1744 the Quakers who were 
in the majority in the Legislature of Pennsylvania, opposed 
the passage of a militia law and the adoption of precautions 
for defence. Franklin projjnsed to accomplish the object by 
\-oluntar\'- subscription and he set forth its importance in a 
]ianiphlet entitled "Plain Trnth." which had great influence. 
In 1746 he commenced his electrical exiieriments, making 
M-\eral important discoveries. .\s a representative to the 
G.neral Assembly of Penns\l\ania in 1747 he distinguished 
Inm-^elf 1i\' several acts iif public utility. 

'^hi'^ seccind visit was inider vl-yv different auspices from 
tlicise which attendeil his \-isit in 1725. Then he went a poor 
priiUer relying upiin tlie imaginary inlluence of the graceless 
Sir William Keith, who had cajoled him with chimerical 
promises and sham letters nf recommendation. "Now, it was 
I'ranklin, the eminent phildsopher and discoverer, the gifted 
writer and sagacious statesman, who took up temporary resi- 
dence in London." Flis electrical discoveries had been pro- 
mulgated two years before, his first letters on the subject 
being addressed to Peter Collinson, a member of the Roya! 
Society. In 174Q he suggested an explanation of the .\urora 
I'.orealis, and thunder gusts on electrical (irinciples. r)Ut it 



Walk's anil I'allcs .Ihoiil llislorir Hosloii. 25,5 

was noi uniil iIk- Miinnicr nf 173-' lliat he resmlccl lu llic ex- 
periment of a common kite and by means of it converted what 
was theory into scientific truth. I le prepared a kite from a 
^ilk handkercliief, as l.iein.L; less hkely to he affected hy rain. 
than paper. I'o tile upright stick of the frame he attached an 
iron ])oint. The string;' was, as usual, nf hemp, except the 
lower end. which was of silk, and where the hem])en and 
silken cords were united he fastened a metallic key. With 
this apparatus he went forth with his son into the fields, as 
a thunder storm was coming on, to try the experiment, the 
memory of which was to be immortal. 

Well know insj the ridicule which is called forth when scien- 
tific experiments are imsuccessful, he kept his intentions a 
^ecret from all but his companion. He placed himself under 
a shed to avoid the rain. The kite was raised. A thunder 
storm passed over it. X(j sign of electricity appeared. 
I'ranklin began to despair of success, when suddenly he saw 
the loose fibres of his string in motion and bristling in an 
upright position as if placed on a conductor. On applying 
his knuckle to the key, he exi>erienced a smart shock. 
Here was his thenrv verified. As his string became wet with 
the rain it operated Ijetter as a conductor and he was al)le to 
collect an abundant supply of electricity, with which he 
charged a jar. His experiment was made in June, 175-. It 
had been successfully performed according to Franklin's 
original plan by means of a pivoted bar of iron, about a month 
previous in Paris, liy M. He Lor, hut Franklin had not been 
apprised either of the attempt or the result at the time of 
making his experiment with the kite. He afterwards had an 
isolated rod constructed to draw the lightning into his house, 
with a bell attached, in order to inform him when the rod was 
affected by electricity. "The scientific men of France, how- 
ever, did am])le justice to I'Vanklin's merits, and at length 
the experiment of drawing lightning from the clouds by a 
liointecl rod having been verified in iMiglancl, the Royal 
Societ\- made amends for its neglect by choosing him a mem- 
ber, exempting him from the customar\- admission fee of 
twenty-five guineas, and in 1753 presented him with the Clnld 
Medal of Sir Geoffrey Copley." 

"The fame of Franklin," says Mignet. "rapidly si)read with 
his theory over the whole world." The I 'hiladelphia sage be- 
came the object of universal regard and was abundantly 
loaded with .icademic honors. Tlie Ac.iden.iv of Sciences in 



2}4 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

Paris, made him an associate member, as it had Newton and 
Liebrutz. All the learned bodies in Europe eagerly admitted 
him into their ranks." To this scientific glory he added high 
piilitical distinction. 

To this man, happy, because he was intelligent, great, be- 
cause he had an active genius and a devoted heart, was ac- 
corded the rare felicity of serving his country skilfuUv and 
usefully, for a period of fifty years: and after having taken, 
rank among the immortal founders of the positive sciences, he 
also enrolled himself among the generous liberators of the 
nations. Franklin was most hospitably received in England 
on the occasion of this second visit, which lasted from July 
-"• ^757- to the latter part of August 1762. 

In a literary and religious sense it was an important epoch 
in the history of England. "Ben Johnson was publishing his 
'Idler :' Burke had just given to the world his essay on the 
'Sublime and Beautiful." and was editing the 'Annual Reg- 
ister;' Hume was completing his 'History of England;' 
Stern was publishing his 'Tristam Shandy' ; Swedenborg was 
residing obscurely in London engaged in his mystical writ- 
ings: ("loldsmith was just launching upon a literary career: 
( iarrick was electrifying the town with his acting: and the 
P.rothers \\'esley were engaged in their extraordinar\' labors 
for the establishment of a reformed Protestantism. Sir Isaac 
Xewton had died thirty years l)efore." W'e do not know that 
Franklin became acquainted with any of these distinguished 
persons, except Hume. Garrick and Burke. Franklin, on his 
arrival in London took lodgings in a house on Craven Street 
near the Strand where he remained during the whole period 
of his stay in England. He became deeply attached to the 
landlady and her family. \\'illiam Strahan, the King's 
printer, and a member of Parliament, was one of Franklin's 
most intimate friends, and was a great admirer of Franklin 
and in writing to Air. Franklin in i/SQ, he says: "I never saw 
a man who was in every respect so perfectly agreeable to me. 
.'^onie are amiable in one way, and some in another, he in all." 
"It is a painful example of the estrangements produced by 
war, to read in connection with this, the following letter 
(supposed by some to he nut whully serious) from I'ranklin 
to Strahan. eighteen years afterwards: 

Philadelphia. Julv 5. ijy^. 
M r, ."strahan : 

^'ou are a member of Parliament and one of that majority 



ll'alks and Talks Ahont Historic Boston. ••■'•^ 

wliich duonied my country to destruction. You have begfun 
to burn our homes and murder our people. Look upon your 
hands, they are stained with the blood of your relations. You 
and I were lont; friends. You are my enemy and I am yours, 

B. Franklin. 

.\fter the independence of the Colonies was acknowledged, 
the friendly intercourse of Franklin and Strahan was resumed 
and the ties were reknit with added warmth on both sides. 
Franklin entered into the object of his mission with his usual 
alacrity and fidelity of attention. His mission was to break 
up a land monopoly which existed in the Province of Penn- 
sylvania. Thomas Penn the son of William Penn, by his sec- 
ond wife, became liy inheritance, proprietary of three-fourths 
of the Province, his brother Richard, proprietary of the re- 
mainder. To extend their influence the proprietaries had 
claimed the appointment of judicial and other officers. They 
had forbidden all other persons to purchase land of the na- 
tives, thus establishing; a monopoly in their own favor and 
they insisted on the exemption of their immense estate from 
taxation. 

The (iovernor of the Province was the nominee of the pro- 
prietaries and there were constant disputes between him and 
the General .Assembly over these matters. The ready pen and 
clear judf;nient of I'ranklin were frequently called into requi- 
sition in drawing;' up reports and representations to the pro- 
prietaries and their associates and havinp; at last shown him- 
self more than a match for the writers on the other side, the 
General Assembly sent him as their Ajjent to Fn,s:land to rep- 
resent their case to the King. The newspapers in England 
were mostly in favor of the proprietaries and public opinion 
was thus prejudiced against the Assembly. Franklin at once 
set about to correct public opinion through the same channel, 
the press. He had an interview with the pro])rietaries resi- 
dent in England and discussed the points of dilTerence, but 
the Messrs. Penn would not rela.x in their arbitrary claims. 
They seemed ambitious of holding the whole population of 
Pennsylvania in a state of vassalage. I'^inally the .'\ssembly 
passed a bill taxing the vast estates of the proprietaries and 
other laws of a similar nature were passed and signed by the 
Governor who was removed by the Penns. The laws were 
sent to the king for his approval, while the Peims jietitioned 
for a veto on them. The matter was referred to the lioard 
of Trade, who decided in 1760 that the .Vssemblv had a right 



^5''' Walks Olid Talks About Historic Boston. 

tu lax the estates, specifying some modifications of the Act, 
which were readil\- consented to by Frankhn, who prtned 
himself a prudent and faithful negotiator. 

At this time England was at war with France, antl it 
was largely through the influence of Franklin, whose ser- 
vices were sought after liy I.cird Chatham, then Prime 
]\Iinister that the scene of hostilities was changed front 
Europe to America, resulting in the brilliant victory of 
General Wolfe, and the annexation of the Province of 
Canada to the British Empire. Parliament granted thirty 
thousand pounds to Pennsylvania for military and other 
expenses and Franklin was appointed by the Assembly to 
receive and invest the same, .\lthough acting in opposi- 
tion to the Proprietaries, the latter were forced to admit 
that liis course was fair and unobjectionable. "I do not 
tind," writes Th'inias Penn, "that he has done me any 
prejudice with any jiarty." 

The story of this sojourn of Franklin in England is a 
most interesting one. He devoted the greater part of his 
time to philosophical and electrical matters. "He had very 
keen powers of observation and inference. Observation 
conducted him to discovery and inference to practical ap- 
plication of it." 

In 1751) the Cni\ersity of -St. Andrews conferred upon 
Franklin the Degree of T,>octor of Laws and in the sum- 
mer of that }ear he made a \isit to .'^c<~it!and, where he 
formed the acquaintance of David Hmne, and Dr. Robert- 
son, the Historians, Lord Komes and other eminent men. 
When Franklin was about to return to America, David 
Hume wrote him: "I am \ery sorry that you intend to 
leave our hemi'-phere. America has sent us many good 
things; gold. ^iUi-r. ^uqar. tol)acco. indig<i, etc.. but )OU 
are the first ]ihilcisoplier. and, indeed, the first great man of 
letters, for w honi \ve are 'jeholden to her." 

In .\ugust. ij(>2. Franklin mailed for America. C)wing to 
the war with l-'rance his \ess(.-l was under convoy of a 
man-of-war antl was obliged to touch at Madrid, where he 
remained a few days. On the 1st of Xoveml)er he arrived 
in America and received an enthusiastic vote of thanks for 
the faithful discharge of the duties imposed upon him and 
the Assemblv voted him the sum of three thousand pouncK 
sterling in token of their ajjiireciation of his services. 



ll'alks ami Talks .tbout Historic Boston. -57 

On his arrixal hunic he fdund that there was seriuiis 
trouble between tlie l)ack settlers and the Indians. Hun- 
dreds of i)ersons were plundered and slain. Some of the 
Indians were living peaceably imder the charge of Mora- 
vian missionaries and six of these were slaughtered in 
cold blood by the hulian haters, and a nimiber of the In- 
dians fleeing for their lives were pursued into Fhiladlphia. 
Franklin was ever on the side of humanity and justice, 
and these persecute<l Indians foimd in him a zealous cham- 
pion and protector. 

The rioters having advanced as far as ( lermantown, 
within six miles of I'liiladeljihia. Franklin, with three 
other influental citizens, was dejnited to go out and confer 
with them. They were received with respect and they 
prevailed uojm the rioters to abandon their hostile ])roject. 
The war between the Assembly and the proprietaries still 
continued and as leader of the opposition Franklin became the 
target of the most vindictive assaults. Some of the men 
opposed to him had long been his associates in public and 
private life, and Franklin felt their estrangement very keenly. 
Before departing for England on his second mission, Frank- 
lin wrote the following: "I am now to take my leave, per- 
haps my final leave of the country I love and in which I have 
spent the greater part of my life "Esto perpetual' I wish 
every kind of prosperity to my friends and I forgive mv 
enemies !" 

J le arrived in England December 1764. and had been there 
but a few months, when, in opposition to the remonstrances 
of I'ranklin and the Massachusetts Agents in England, the 
"Stamp Act" was passed by Parliament. 

In February 1766. he was summoned before the House of 
Commons and subjected to an examination upon facts rela- 
tive to the repeal of the ".Stamp Act." 

■A\'ithout prei^arations he submitted to a series of verv close 
in(|iiiries. \'arious in their character and demanding verv 
extensive information in the respondent. The promptitude, 
sagacity and independence of his replies with the simple and 
expressive diction in which they were conveyed and his self 
poise and unassuming deportment commanded the respect of 
all parties. 

He said there was not gold or silver enough in the Colo- 
nies to pay the tax for one year, that it was not true that 
America was protected by ("ireat Britain and paid no part of 



-'5.'^ Walks (111(1 Talks Aboiil Historic Boston. 

the expense ; tliat the C'olunies raiseil. cluthed and ])ai(l durinfj 
the last WAY near twenty-five thmisand men and spent many 
inilUoiis ; tliat the temper of America towards Great Britain 
before the year ij(\^. was the best in the world, and to be an 
iild lMi,L;lan<l man was of itself a character of respect ;ind 
Ljave a kind of rank anidnu;- Americans but that their temper 
now was very mucli altered. When asked if he thought that 
America would submit t<i pav the Stamp Duty if lessened, he 
replied. "Xo. never, unless ccjuipelled by force of arms." 
"May not a militar\' force carry tlie Stamji Act into execu- 
tion?" asked one of his interrogaturs. k'ranklin replicik 
"Suppose a militarv force be sent to .\merica. they will find 
nobody in arms, what are they to do?" "They cannot force 
a man to take stamps who chooses to do without thetii." 
".Suppose the Stamp Act continued and enforced, do you 
imai^dne that ill humor will induce the .Americans to give as 
mucli for worse manufactures of tlieir own and use them in 
jireference to better of ours?"" "\'es, 1 think so. i'eople will 
pay as freely to gratify one piassion as another, their resent- 
ment is their pride." 

"What are the body of the j^eople of the Colonies?" They 
are farmers, husbandmen, or planters." "Would they suffer 
the products of their lands to rot?" "Xo, but they would not 
raise too mucli. They would manufacture and raise less." 

In less than three months after Franklin's examination, a 
bill was intro<luced into the llou^e of Commons to repeal tiie 
Stamp .\ct. llis \-oice spoke in no uncertain tones concern- 
ing the l.md of hi- liirth and tjie land he loved. 

Space will not ])ermit of giving all the details of Frank- 
lin's great ;ind patriotic work during the sojourn in Enghmd. 
His \dicc and his trenchant pen and his magnetic i~)ersonality 
were dexoteil without stint to the service of his beloved land. 
Xotwithstanding tlu- absorbing n.iture of his jiolitical bi-i- 
ne-- he gave much time to scientific and economic questions 
of iiublic utility. 

In 1774, tile r.i-ilish niinistr\ disiiiis-ed I'ranklin from 
the office of Dejiuty Postmaster of the Colonies. The im- 
mediate cause of this dismiss.al was hi- agency in com- 
municating to the public certain original letters written in 
r^lassachusetts by (Governor Hutchinson, Lieut. Covernor Oli- 
ver and others addressed to ^Ir. Thomas Whately, Member 
of Parliament. Tlie-e letter- were transmitted by Franklin 
to Mr. Thomas Cushing, Cbairnian of the Massachusetts Com- 



Walks and Talks .Iboiil Histovu- Boston. -'59 

iiiittcx- of ((inT^iKjiKk'ncc. In his letter to Air. Cnsliinu; lu- 
says: "I am not at liberty to tell through what channels T re- 
ceived it. and 1 have ens^aged that it shall not be ])rinted, nor 
copies taken of the wliole or any ])art of it, bnt \ ant allowed 
to let it be seen by some of worth in the Province for their 
satisfaction only. In confidence of your preserving inviolj'.bly 
my engagement, I send you inclosed the original letters, to ob- 
viate any pretence of unfairness, in copying, interpolation or 
omission." 

He added a rei|uest th.'it the p.ackage of letters be returned. 
Franklin stated under oath, that these letters in ipiestion were 
given to him and came into his hands as Agent for the House 
of Rejiresentatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. that 
when given to him be did not know to whom they were ad- 
dressed — no address a])pearing upon atiy. Nor did he know 
before that any such letters existed, that he did n(it cause the 
letters to be printed, nor direct tlie doing of it, that he did r.ot 
erase any address that might ha\e been on the letters. "Alean- 
time the .greatest abuse was hea]>ed upon h'ranklin. Init his de- 
meanor all through, this shameful anil ribald attack, was calm 
and dignified. The Lords of the ( ouncil seemed to enjov the 
alnise heaped upon Franklin, and with the exception of T-ord 
.\orth. frequentlv laughed outright. In less than a year after 
this disgraceful scene at the I'oiuicil lioard. Ford Howe ap- 
])ealed to bVanklinV magn.-inimitv "not to consider this ill 
treatment b\ the .Ministry; that some of them were a.shanied 
of it and sorry that it hajipened : which he sujiposed must be 
sufficient to al.)ate resentment in a grt-.it and generous mind." 

The first Continental Congress was iield in Philadelphia, 
.'September 17. 1774. In December, following, their petition 
to the King was forwarded under cover to P'ranklin. 

Lord Chatham, who had taken a bold and decided stand 
on the side of the Colonies, had long been admired by bVanklin 
at a distance. "Circumstances now brought them together, 
and their intercourse throughout was of a character honorable 
to both ]5arties. His lordshi]j's vindication of P""ranklin from 
the aspersions of Ford Sandwich, in the Plouse of Fords, is a 
tribute that outwei.ghs all the abuse ever lavished upon the 
.American sage by the su]iporters of the ministry." \n elec- 
tion had taken place, wliich gave Ford North and his coF 
leagues an overwhelming majority in Parliament. 

In an indirect wa\' the ministry sought the good offices of 
Franklin to brin<j aliciut a settlement with the t/olonies. ".A 



-■''O Walks and I'alks About llistiiric Boston. 

certain lady, the the sister of Lord Howe, expressed a desire 
to play cIk-ss with Franklin, and he accepted the invitation, 
with no apprehension that any political business would have 
any connection with the new acquaintance. Franklin says: 
"After playing as long as we liked, we fell into a little chat, 
partly on a mathematical problem, partly about the new Parlia- 
ment, then just met, when she said, "What is to be done with 
this dispute lietween (ireat llritain and the Colonies?" "They 
shoidd kiss and he friends," said I, "what can they do better? 
Quarrelling can he no service to either, but ruin to both." "I 
have often said," relied she, "that 1 wish ( iovernment would. 
employ you to settle the dispute, for 1 am sure nobody could 
do it so well. Do not yiui think that the thing is practicable?" 
"L'ndoubtedly, .Madame, if the parties are disposed to recon- 
ciliation, for the two countries have no clashing interests to 
differ about. It is rather a strife of principles, which two or 
three reasonable people might settle in half an hour. I thank 
you for the good opinion you are pleased to express of me, Init 
the ministers will never think of employing me in this good 
work, they choose rather to abl1^e me." "Ah," said she. "they 
ha\'e liehaved sliamefullv to y<iu, and. indeed, some of them 
are now ashamed of themselves." 

This con\'er>ati(.in led to an accpiaintance with Lord 
Howe, who asked l-'ranklinV opinion in regard to sending 
eiver a Commission to irupiire into grie\ ances and compose 
differences. "I wish, firother," said .Miss Howe, ")-ou were 
to he sent hither on such a service. 1 sh(.)uld like that bet- 
ter than ( ieneral llowe going to command an army there." 
"I think, .Madam," said iManklin, "they ought t<i jjrovide 
for General Howe some more honorable Inisiness." 

The Ministry liecame so an.xious at this time to secure 
the services of l"ranklin in promoting a settlement with 
tile Colonies, as to hint to hiiu that he might expect not 
onlv the restoration of his old position, hut .ilmost any- 
other he could ask for, upon which Franklin, in writing to 
his son, says: "1 need not tell you wdio knows me so well, 
how improper and disgusting this language was to me." 

.Vfter prolonging his stay to await the result of the Con- 
tinental Congress, Franklin made his preparations to return 
to .\merica. 

( )n his arrival he found the Colonies in a high state of e.x- 
citenient. The battles of Lexington and ('oncord had been 
fought, and the Second (,'ontinental Congress was in ses- 



Il'alks and 'l\ilks .Ihoiil Ilistoiic flostoii. -'^i 

sion. Ill- was the iinanuiKiiis cliuice of the AsM.-inL)K nt 
l'cnn>\ Ivaiiia a> a dclL\L;atc to Congress. This Congress 
sent an hinnl)le petition to the Crown, giving Britain one 
more ehanee, one nmre opportnnity of recovering the friend- 
ship ni the Cnlonies. concerning which J''ranklin writes: "[ 
think she lias ntjt sense enongh to eml.irace it, as I consider 
she has lost them forever." 

( »n the JOth of May, 1775. Congress ha\ing resolved that 
hostilities had been commenced bv (ireat Tiritain, "It was 
Allied that the Colonies onght to be init in a positit)n of de- 
fence." ( )n the 2 1 St of July, 1775. the first sketch for a plan 
(if confederation was presentetl to Congress by I'ranklin. 
The name which he proposed for the ConfederacA' was, "The 
I'nited Colonies of Xorth America." About this time 
Congress established a Post Office system of its own .and 
appointed T'Tanklin Postmaster Ceneral. lie w.as on all the 
important committees of Congress, public or secret, and 
although seventy years of ;ige, he entered upon his several 
duties with ;dl the buoyancy and acti\it\- <if Aoipli. When 
the (iiiUineutal |ia]>er mone\' was under discnssiou, he ad- 
vised that the bill should bear interest, ancl it was a matter 
of regret, when too late, that his advice was unhee<led. 

In ( )ct(jber, 1775, he was .appointed by Congress to con- 
sult •with \\'ashint;ton at his head(|u;irters in Camljridge in 
relation to a reorganization of the niiliti.i. Cen. Xathanaiel 
Green met I'ranklin on this occasion .and wrote, "I had the 
lionoi" to be introduced to that \ery great man. Hr. Frank- 
bn. whom 1 \ lew ed witli silent admir.ation during the 
whole (wening. Attention \\;itched his li|is, and con\-ictioii 
closed his periods." 

lie made an arduous joui'ni'v to C/anada to obtain the C(_i- 
operation of the inhabitants there. Me was appointed in 
tz/fy oiie of a committee of li\-e to prepare a Declaration of 
Indeiiendence. The other members of the connnitte were 
Thomas lettersou, |ohn Adams, Rogei' ."Sherman and Robert 
P). Livingston. 

The original draft bv Thomas lefTerson of this momentous 
document, eoul.ains interlineations in the hand.wi'iting of 
Franklin. TIk- Declaration was ,i(lo]ited by I'ongres'^ on 
the iMnn-th of July, 1776. It is related th.at when |ohn 
Hancock signed it in his bold, h.anilsome h.and. he re- 
marked. "King ( ieorge can read that without his ^kisses." 
Then ,as the others sl._^ned their names, he reni.irked. "W^e 



Walks mill Talks .Ihoiit Historic Boston. 



must 1j' 
I-"rankii 
aratt'lv." After th 



uuaniniiius. wc niu>t all iiani; tn^ethcr." when 
[uickU- replicil, "N'e^, if we wcmld ncit haiiL; .sep- 



hattk 



if Lniio- Lsland t ieiieral llowe 




II:. II 



l,„lr,,r„,lr 



expressed tu (/.eneral Sullixan, wlm had been taken prisoner 
and liberated on parole, a de>ire t<i confer with a delega- 
tion of Congress, and that body ajipointed r.eniamin 
I'ranklin. John Adams and b'dward Rutledge a L'onimittee 
( if ( 1 inference. 



Walks and Talh-s .Ihoiil llistnric Basloii. -''',! 

Tlicv met I. (lid lldwi- at Sl.itcii Inland, uppusiu- AmlidV, 
within the I'.riti^h lino. His lordship rrccivcd and enter- 
tained them politely. Inil nifornied them he eould nut treat 
with them as a Lonnnittee ni Cont^ress. His powers only 
l^ermitted Jiim to consnlt with tliem as pri\ate ;m-ntlenien 
of influence in the C'olnp.ies. This statement |)iit an end to 
the conference, and tlie committee reported the resnU to 
Congress. John .\(hims, in his diary, t^ixes a \-er_\' aninsin^- 
account of the journey of the committee from Philadelphia 
to Staten Island. In < )ctolier. 1776. Congress voted to make 
application to !• ranee for aid in the struggle for independ- 
ence and three couimissiouers were appointed, namelw 
lienjamin I'ranklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee, to nego- 
tiate with that power. 

Messrs. Deane and Lee were already in Eurei()e. l-'rank- 
lin. with his two grandsons, left I 'hiladelphia in ( )ctol)er. 
I77'>, eml)arkinL' or. the Cnited .States man-of-war 
"Reprisal," mounting sixteen guns and connnanded by 
Captain W'ickes. 

1'he sloop of war was (hased se\eral times by British 
cruisers, hut obeyed orders ;iud shunned engagements, 
l-'ranklin and liis gr.andsons went on board a fishing boat 
at Aurav and reached .\antes 1 )eceinber 7, 1770. Here 
the\' remained eight d;iys ;ind were treated with the greatest 
distinction. It was uot known in luirope that Congress 
had decided on any applicition for aid, it was thought that 
he was present on souie official errand. On the 21 st of 
December he arri\cd in I'aris and met his colleagues, 
Messrs. Deane an<l Lee. 

The diplomatic coui'se of I'ranklin in brance co\ered a 
|)eriod of nearly nine years. 1 lis reputation in Paris was 
established in I767-I7C)() when he visited that city, and this 
re])utation was greater than in England (^r America, but 
it was now matured Ijy the la])se of time, and he \\-as re- 
ceived with a degree of distinction rarely accorded to any 
foreigner. He remained in Paris but a few days, establish- 
ing himself ;it Passy, .-diout thret' miles from the centre of 
the cit_\\ John ,\ilams describes his residence there as a 
very magnificent place, the rent of which must ha\e been 
enormously high. The owner was a staunch friend of 
America, and was content to have l-'ranklin occu])y his 
home on very moderate terms, and after the Re\'olution 
rccei\e his pa}' from our ( ioxernment in grants of public 



Walks ami Talks . I bout Ilistaric Tastoii. 265 

land. I'ranklin al once s^avc his attentiim to the object of 
his mission. W liile the l'"rench court was ncjt yv\ prepared 
for an open l)reach with England, it had already ad\'anced 
two hundred thousand dollars for the shijiment of arms 
and military stores to America, it l^eing arranged that 
Congress shoidd send tobacco and other products in return. 
I\I. Vergennes. the ^linister of W ar, received the Commis- 
sioners ver\' kindly, but thoui.;ht it liest for the present, to 
defer any open recognition, but the L'omniissioners received 
ostensibh', from a private source, but reall\- from the King's 
Treasury, for the use of Congress, a quarterly allowance, 
amounting in the whole to about four hundred thousand 
dollars, and half as much more from the "farmers general'' 
to be repaid by remittances of tobacco. Being thus supplied 
with over half a million dollars, they sent to America arms 
and ec|uipments, fitted out armed vessels, and supplied the 
American cruisers touching at French ports. The British 
Ambassador at Paris, Lord Sternmont, protested against 
the underhanded aid rendered the Americans. \'ergennes 
made a show at rebuking the Commissioners, who were not 
deterred from their operations. The Commissioners wrote 
to Lord Sternmont, relative to exchange of prisoners. His 
Lordshi]) pronyitlv replied: "The King's Ambassador re- 
ceives no aj)i)lication from rebels unless they come to im- 
plore his ^lajesty's mere}'." I'ranklin's reply, signed also 
by 1 )eane, to this impertinence, was: "Alv Lord, in answer 
to a letter, which concerns some of the most material inter- 
ests of humanity, and of the two nations, (Ireat Britain and 
the United States of America, now ;il w;tr. we received the 
enclosed indecent pa|ier, as coming from } our lordship, 
which we return I'or your lordshi]i's more mature consider- 
ation." The British .Mini--try finding the balance of prison- 
ers against them, were soon L;l;id to .accept the proposition, 
thus inagnificeiitl}- imt aside b\- I.(]r(l ."^ternniont." 

\\ hen the news of lUu'goyne's surrender to the Ameri- 
cans under ( leneral Cates at Saratoga was received in 
I'Tance. it decided the French C:d>inet in its course. "The 
c.apittdation of Burgcivne." writes I'ranklin, "has caused 
the mo>t profound jov in l''r,Lncc. ;i^ if it were a \ictor\' 
won l)\- her own troops o\ cr lier own enennes. .^uch i'^ the 
universal .irdi-nt and sincere good will ,and altachnient of 
this n.ation foi- us ,anil oui' c.ausr." lie a\:iile(l liiniscli ,i| 
ibis moment of enthusiasm to iiromote the inlerests of his 



-"■(' Walks ami Tiilks .Ibout Historic Boston. 

Cdiintry. ( )ii the 7tli nf I )eccinl)cr X'cryx-niK-s infdrined the 
Aiiicrican L'omnii>>iiiiK'r,s thai his Majesty was "(Hsposed to 
estahlisli ini n-f (hrect relations with the I'liitcd States." 
Two treaties were si^neil heliniarv <ith, tJJ^^. mu- uf amity 
and ccininierce, tlie nther i>\ alHaiice fur iiuitnal defence, liy 
which the kinj; a^reecl tu "make comninn cause with the 
rnite<l States slKJuld luiL;hind attem])t to nhstruct the ccjui- 
nierce with I'rance. and i;uaranteed tu tile I'niteil States 
theii- liheity. sc i\erei.L;nt\ and inde]>en(lence." I'ranklm 
writes: "'rhe KiiiL; has trealeil iis with L^eiieri isity and mag- 
nanimity, taking tin ad\antaL;e ni mir present difficulties to 
exact terms, which we wmild not willin^K u;rant when es- 
taldished in prospeiit\ and ]ieace. k'n^land is in L;reat con- 
sternation." TIk' .\nieric.in Commissi, ,nei"s appeared in 
I'onrt on a footing with the re|>resentati\ es of (jther inde- 
pendent |Hiwers. hranklin was |iresented 1>\ \ eri^eiines, to 
l.onis. the Si.xteeiitli, ;-t \ ers.ailles, and was recei\ed ])v the 
clapping' of liands aini other tokens of welci'ine from tlie 
snrronndini4" conrtiers. lie appeared at tliis ro\-,il ,indience. 
\'er\" sini|il\- attireil. with strait^ht, nttpow derecl hair, a 
brown cloth co.it ;ind round lial. A crowd li.ad collected to 
see him. I lis a^e, his xeneralile .ispect. his simple dress, 
contrasted with the tiner\' alimit him, the recollection of his 
ser\ ices to s^-j^-iu-e and humanity, all combined to waken 
the utmost eiithusisiii of the spectators. The KitlL; receiveil 
him with much cordialit\, charL;in.u; him to assure the 
I'nited States of his friendship, rind expressing; his satisfac- 
tion at the Conduct of thtdr commissioners Jnrini:;- tlieir 
iHsideiice in 1'r.ince. < )n his withdraw itiL; from the audi- 
enc<- the crowd in the p,issaL;e w a\ s recei\c(l hTanklin witll 
renewed m.anifestations of welcome and followed him for 
some distance. The enthtisiasm w tth which he hatl been 
received in \'ers,iilles was renewed in I'aris. lie called or» 
\ iill.atre who was in his ei,L;ht\ -hfth \ear. h'ranklin pre- 
sented one of his -randsuiis to him .and risked his blessing" 
on him. "(iod ,iiid Liberty." satd X'oltaire. raisin^i' his 
hands o\er the yottni; man's heail, "that is the .>nly bene- 
diction a]}propriati' to the ^^randsoii of I'rankliii." 

It w;is dtiriiiL;- the residence of the (.■otiimissii mers in 
1-^-ance that the .Matiptis 1 )e Lafayette sailed for America, 
in a ship (pf his own. to ser\e in the .\nierican Army. 

Franklin's reputation in I'rance so towered o\er his col- 
lea.L^ues that the\ w eri liphers by his side. They were re- 



Walks ,111(1 Talk's .lb, nil lllshnic n,Lst„ii. -"'7 

called anil nii Sr]>tcnil)fr 14. ^JJ>^. I'lanklin \\a^ appnintcil 
Minister 1 'k-ni]M itenliary tci the (Onrt ,<i l-rance. lie ae- 
coniplislied in l-rance 1]\ lii> ilipli iiiiae\ a^ niinh a^ did 
Wasliini^tiin witli all liis \ict(ii'ies. 

"lie did the w.rk l.ut he never learned the clialcet nf 
diploiiiacw lie \\a> 'ihat slrani;e ereatnre. a lepnhliean at 
the cmirt (if a ]iure nionarcln . In rai'i--, his defects were 
virtues. As a ]iolitician at the ( ourt he was the dire 
enemy of En_t;land, td the jaded siiciet\ ,,i I'aris. he wa- the 
re])resentati\e of a new world nf feelinL; and thuni^hl. Ills 
Xew hji^land astuteness seemed tn Parisian courtiers, pa- 
triarchial imidcence. Ills naive sturies and illiistratiinis. 
wliiidi a thiiusaiKl admirers were read\- to translate and re- 
peat in excry circle in the t' iw n were as lir:u'in^ as ipiinine. 
J lis \ ery costume, his hair han^inL;. his s|iectacles 1 in his 
nose and white hat under his arm. in the midst nf absurd 
perukes, and lirocaded suits, came like a revelation nf na- 
ture X,i the X'ersailles ,>\ fashinn. lie became, to his nwn 
amusement, the idnl nf I'aris. A'ersailles was ne\er. per- 
haps, (|uite cert.iin that the Xew l'',nL;lanfl I'hihisdpher w .as 
ncit <if red Indian descent. Hut loxe dues nut reasnii. I'aris 
had fallen in ln\e with h'ranklin, .ind in homage tn him. 
even ijrew enamored nf simplicit}". lie was ,1 di]ilom,it of 
lii.^h rank in the art. I lis collea.^nes, rivals, and cletractnrs 
were imahle to un<lerstand the source '>i his inllneiice, Imt 
did not vt'Utm'e to deny the fact, and cnuld unt .accuse him 
of ncLilectiiiL; the interests (if his cnuntry. 

.\s ,1 diplniii.itist he was iml peremptnr}- in insistiiiL; nn 
the i-iL;hts nf his , ,\\ n comitr}', still less nn his nw n dignity, 
lie studied the I'rench men and l-'ri'iich wnmen, who ruled 
I'rance, and he prnhed tn the liottnm the instincts nf the 
I'rench l;i i\ erniuL;- class w itlmut Insin^ his nwn. .\linut 
allowances in general he was not solicitous, leffersdu riL;htly 
s.aid ot him: "\'<\- his reasonalileiiess, moderatimi .and temper, 
he sn w(in the confidence of the I'rench ministers, that it ma\' 
truly lie said that they were more under his inlluence than he 
was under theirs." With a ])rnspective war with h' ranee .and 
Spain on their hands, the British ("iovernment he.i^an to con- 
sider the e.x])edienc\- of makinsj- peace with the I'nited 
.States. Franklin was .approached hv warious emissaries. 
lie <^ave one answer to all such overtures, tli.at am- pmpn- 
sition imidyiuL; :i return ,<\ the I'nited States in ,1 depend- 



-'68 Walks ami Tulles About Uisturic Boston. 

ence was iiniiDs^iblr. oiilv a peace nn eijual terms wuulil be 
ci msiilered. 

It was about this time that that famous naval adventurer, 
jeiim I'aiil Junes was in I-'rance, ha\ing- espoused the cause 
uf the I'nited States. John Adams describes him as "the 
must aniliitiuus and intriguing officer in the American 
Xa\y. llis \uiee is soft, his c\'e has keenness and wildness 
and siiftness." 

"In ciimplimeni to l-"ranklin. w hdse poor Richard's max- 
ims were \er_v pupukii in L-'rance, he named Jiis 42 gun ship 
of tile niixeti l-"ri-ncli and American squadron of which he 
liad ciimniand. tlie "Hon llomnie Richard." lii~- \ ictory in 
this ship o\er tlie British man-of-war, "Serapis" obtained 
for him the present of a suhd gold belted sword from the 
Frencii King, it is now admitted that the liberal and timely 
aid rendered by b'rance to the United States in the Revolution- 
ary struggle, was due in great measure to the personal in- 
fluence and diplomatic skill of Benjamin Franklin. The 
hostility of I~rance to Great Britain was an element wdiich 
entereil very large!}- in securing that aid, but the French King 
and Ministry had a high personal regard for Franklin. And 
on his part, lie was ileeply impressed with the noble and gener- 
ous manner in which France, without stipulating for a single 
l)ri\ilege, liad afforded us aid in mir distress. 

"In the Summer of 1780. C'luuit Rochamlieau arrived at 
Xewpiirt, Rhode Island \vitli a I'reiich Army of 6,000, and 
in 17S1. I'rankliii ]>incured fr. an l''rance an additional loan 
of three millimi uf li\res. and tlie sum of si.x millions, not 
as a loan. Init as a gift." ( )n the 12th of Alarch, 1781, being 
then in his 7('>tli year. Franklin wrote to Congress asking 
for a recall. Congress replied l)v a|)pointing him. one of a 
Commission of V\\c. including John Adams. John Hay, 
Thomas Jefferson and Fau\ens, to negotiate a Treaty of 
Peace, h^ranklin accepted the new appointment and on the 
_^oth of Xo^'enlller. 1782. a Treaty with Creat Britain was 
signed and this 'i'reaty was duly ratified in Congress. 

Franklin arranged liighh- f;i\'orable terms, and for the 
pavnient of our del)t tu I'rance ; negotiated a Treaty with 
Sweden, the first ]iiiwer t<< welcnnic us into the family of 
n.atinns, and also a Treaty with i'russia. 

At last in Marcli 1785. Congress heeded Franklin's re- 
|iealed apjilication for a recall, 'idiomas Jefferson was ap- 
piiinted Minister tn the l-"rench Court. 



ll'iilks and Talks About Historic Boston. -'<«) 

"You have conu- to fill Dr. Franklin's place," someone 
asked. "( ). .Xu. .Sn'." replied lefferson, "no man li\im; can 
do that, lint I am appointed tn succeed him I" .Mi^net. the 
I'rench writer. sa\ s of h'ranklin, "His company was sought 
after, not only as the most illustrious, but as the most 
agreeable the times afforded. He impressed his friends 
with sentiments of tenderness, admiration and respect, nor 
was his attachment to them less strong." 

( )n his return to America, he received welcome from 
manyy public bodies. \\ .ishington. in a letter, assured 
lM-;inklin. "that no man could salute him with more ^incer- 
it\ and pleasure." .\fter settling down in his own Ikjuic, 
l''ranklin writes: "1 am surrounded b\- nu friends, with a 
fine family of grandchildren about my knees: and an af- 
fection.'ite good daughter, and son-in-law, to take care of 
me. .\ud after fifty years of ser\ ice, I have the pleasure 
to htni the esteem of m>' couutr\- with regard to me undi- 
minished." lUit he was not permitted to retire from public 
service, lie was elected I'resident of the .^tate, which he 
filled for three successive years. In 1787 he was elected one 
of the delegates from Peniisyh-ania to the Convention for 
forming the National Constitution: which met in riiiladel- 
pliia. He introduced into that Convention, a motion for 
daily Prayers, which was not .adopted, making these memo- 
rable remarks in its su|)port: "In the beginning of the con- 
tot with I'.ritain. when \\c were sensible of danger, we ha<l 
dailv firayers in this room for divin<- protection. ( lur |>ray- 
ers. Sir, were heard .-md the\ were graciously answered. 
.All of us who were engaged in that .Struggle, must have 
observed fre(|uent instances of ;i superintending rro\'idence 
in our fa\'or. To that kind Providence we owe this happy 
opportunit\' of Consulting in peace on tlu' means of estab- 
lishing our future national felicity. And have we now for- 
gotten that poAverful l'"riend, (jr do we imagine, that we no 
longer need his assist.ance"^ 1 have lived. Sir, for a long 
time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I 
have of this truth that C,od reigns in the affairs of men. .\nd 
if a s|iarrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, 
is it possible that an Empire can rise without his aid?" 

I'ranklin wrote many strong papers during the last years 
of his life, which showed no deterioration of his great in- 
tellectual Society of a Memorial to Congress. His last let- 
ter is one addressed nine davs before his decease to Teffer- 



-70 ll'alks 011,1 Talks .^Ihoiit Historic Boston. 

son. the Secretary ^<i Statr. ii|iiin the sulijcct of the Xorth 
l'".astcni Ijoumlary, which shows a miml clear and stroiit;. 

"A friendship fnundcd iipcin the ^incerest mutual esteem, 
existed between h'ranklui ami W ashingtun. .Vfter he- 
queathiuL; in the C(]dicil to his W ill. his fine crab tree walk- 
ing stick, with ,1 gold head cnrKJUsly wrought in the form 
of a libert\- cap, to W ashington, l'"ranklin adds, with one of 
his felicitous terms of expression, "if it u ere a sceptre, he 
has merited it, and wmuUI become it." lie writes to Wash- 
ington in 17X0: "I :iui now finishing my eighty-third _\ear, 
and ]irobably with it, my ccjurse in this life, but in w hat- 
e\er state of existence 1 am |)laced hereafter, if 1 retain any 
memory of wdiat has passed here, 1 shall retain the es- 
teem, respect and aft'ectiou 1 ha\e always had for you, 
nn- dear friend." To this, Washington, with un.wonted 
warmth and earnest expressi(in. repliefl : "If to be \ener- 
ated for benevolence: if to be admired for talents; if to be 
esteemed for patriotism; if to be belo\eil for philanthro|iy, 
can gr.'itifx- the human mind. \ ou must h:i\e the pleasing 
consolation to know that \'iu h;i\c not li\ed in \ain. .\n(l 
I flatter myself that it will not be ranked among the least 
grateful occurrences (jf your life to be assured, that, so 
long as I retain my luemory. yon will l.)e recollected with 
respect, \eneration and .itTection by your sincere friend 
("leorge Washington." Mis f.atal illness occurred in I/QO 
and reipiired the constant attention of his ph\sician. Or. 
[ohn lones. < )n the 17th of April, about elexen o'chjck in 
the forenoon, he quietl)' expired, closing a king and use- 
ful life of eight} -four years .ind three UKiUths. lie ex- 
|)ressed a wish in his W ill. that his Imdy should be buried 
with as little ceremon\- and expense .is may be. The fu- 
neral took place on the J 1st of .\pril and was attended by 
the members of the City ;incl State ( io\ernments. the \ari- 
ous societies of the ('it\ ,ind scjuic twenty thousand citi- 
zens. The bells were muftlcd and tolled, fiags displayed 
at h;df mast, and the consignment of the l)ody to the earth 
was signalized b\- peals of .artillery. His remains lie in the 
northwest corner of (."hrist ( hundi Cemetery in the City 
of Philadelphia, by the side of those of his wife. A marble 
stone, six feet long, four feet wide, bears this inscriptic)n : 
"I'.enjamin and Deborah I'ranklin" 

"In i>erson. bVaukliu w.is symmetrically and compactly 



Walks and lalk-s .Ihaiil Historic Boston. -^/i 

liiriiicd, in later life inclined to curpnlcncv. His licii^lil 
was five feet, nine or ten inches. His features \sere an 
index to the o-ood temper, amenity, cheerfulness, and atTa- 
hility which were his chanicteristics. Childhood, that l)est 
detectiir nf a gentle heart, \\;is e\er welcome to his knee." 

Iranklin can'icd intd |iul)lic life, the same spirit and 
(pialities which had marked his private life, thoroughly 
upright, fair and straightforward in all his dealings, and 
intensely patriotic, and thus achicxed the highest success 
as a statesman .and a iliplumatist. .\ sincere believer in 
the rights of .all men. he estimated, at their true worth, the 
various distinctions which he found introduced into civil- 
ized natiiins and ])oIite society in Eurojie. In his persona! 
bearing he was sedate and weighty, ^len instinctively 
felt his worth, and submitted themscKcs to his wisdom." 
"llis country," sa\ s liigelow. "owes much to h'r.anklin for 
his service in \arious political capacities; the world owes 
much to the fruit of hi^ pen: but his greatest contribution 
to the welfare of mankind, probably, w.as what he difl, b\' 
example, to dignif\- manu.il labor. 

"He was a champion of tlu' Indi.ans, when to advocate 
their cause was to displease the man\ . lie was .among tiic 
earliest op[)(Mients df the vla\e tr.ade and of sla\er\ . 

He omitted no ippportmnt\ to protest against War. and 
its initiuity. .and he branded .as ])iracy the custom (if |)ri- 
vateering. howe\er --anctioued b\- international nsai;e. .\s 
a statesman and philosopher, his fame is imperishable. 

As an acti\e benef.actor of his race he is entitled to its 
lasting gratitude. .\s one of the founders of the -American 
I'nion, he must ever be held in honorable remembrance by 
all who prize .\mericau institutions. .\s the zealous foe 
t(.) oppression in all its forms, he merits the thankful reL;ard 
of goofl men of all a.ges and climes." 

■nil-: I'RAXKl.I.X h( )r\T)ATT()X. 

■j'he Codicil to his W ill dated June 23. i7<Sy. jirovided 
that the Fund if accepted by the iidiabitants (if the town of 
Boston, be managed under the direction of the Selectmen 
united with the Minister of the oldest Kpiscopalian. Con- 
gregational and I 'resbyteri.an Churches in that town, who 
were to make loans mi certain conditions to \duiig married 



J7-' Walks and Tulhs .Ihoii/ Historic Boston. 

artirKTr> under tlic a^c ui t\\vnty-i\\c )cars. 1 )r. l-ranklin 
whii died in 1790, calculatetl tiiat in one hundred years, the 
one thousand pounds wouhl ,L;ru\v tn 131,000 pounds, of 
which he sa_YS : "1 would ha\f the managers tlien hiy out, 
at their discretion, 100,000 pcjunds in I'uhUc Works, which 
may be judged of most general utility tn thji inhaljitants. 
The remaining 31,000 pounds 1 would h,i\e cnntinued to 
be let out on interest for another 100 years. At the end 
tif this second term, if no unfortiuiate accident has pre- 
vented the operation, the same will he 4,0^.11,000 ])ounds, 
of which 1 leave i.(y)i,ooo to the town of I'.ostt)!! and the 
3,000,000 to the disp(jsition of the ( io\ eminent of the 
State, not ])re'-unnng to carr\ nu \i^■\\^ furtlni." The 
town of IJoston accepted this donation at a Town .Meeting, 
held June 1. 171)0. .\ futile suit brought by l''ranklin's 
lieirs in I7<)l. |iic\ented the di\ersiou of the hund at the 
expiration ni the 100 years. ( )n January 17. iS()4, by di- 
rection of the three niinister> ,ind the Hoard of .\ldermen 
of the City, which board claimeil to be the successors of 
the Selectmen, $329,300.48 of the l-uml was paid to the City 
Treasurer for the jiurchase of lancl and the erection thereon 
of the ITanklin Trade School and for the ei|uipment of the 
same. < hi January 31. ii)0'i. the amount .i\ailable for cxpendi- 
tiu-e of the Manai;ers was o4J( 1.S24.7S. The I'ranklin Fund, 
which with its acciunulations, will liecome available m 1991. 
amounted January 31, itjii. to S-'oo.ojS. 75. The b'ranklin 
Trade School, or I'ranklin L'nion, as it is now called, oc- 
cupies the new building .it the corner of .\])plcton and 
]'>erkele\- .'streets, and was opened September, if)o8. This 
building Contains 34 class ro(]uis and 6 draughting rooms 
and .accommodates 1 700 students. There is also a Techni- 
cal and Scientific l.ilirary. and a large hall with a seating 
ca])acity of looo, for lectures, concerts, discussi<iiis and 
.similar ]>urposes. The building, \\ith e(|ui(iment, cost about 
$30,cxx). The site, which was piu'chased in i')o<i. cost 
$100,000. 

There was .-mother donation in the Will of ITanklin, of 
about one hundred pounds, to the town of lloston, to be 
expended in the purchase of Silver }iledals for the most 
meritorious pupils in the Pulilic Schools, This has been 
fruitful of g 1. These Franklin Medals are greatly cher- 
ished b\- I'.ostoniaus, who, in the years gone by, have been 
the recipients of them. 



Walks and I'alhs .Ihont Historic Boston. 



273 



The cornerstone was laid with an appropriate address 
and beconiinii' eeremcmies. i m the fifteentli n\ June, in the 
presence nf the flcixernur and Lieutenant liuveniur of the 







\l,,llin„r,il ,11 



■aiiinii liiininni (inniHil h, I'l ,nil.l ,,,'s 
raliin- ami M.ith. r 



Coninionw ealtli, and the nfficers and niemheis of the 
Massachusetts L'liaritalde .Mechanic Associati' in. hy Mnu. 
Charles Wells. 'I"he nKinunient is in the form uf ;in ohe- 
lisk. and is constructed uf live massive ashlers nf (jniu'v 
granite taken frcmi the Ihmker llill Monument (Juarry. Its 
height is t\vent\-iine feet. si;inding on a rectangular base, 
measuring two feet in heiglit. and. seven feet on each of the 
four sides. 



jcjsiah l-'ranklin and .\l)iah his wife 

Lie 1 I ere interred 

'I'hey li\ed hixingly ti>gether in wedlock 

l'ifty-l-'i\ e N'ears : 

Their y( mngest son. 

In tili.al reganl tn their niemury 

I Maces this Stc.ne. 

J. P., I'.Mi-n 1033— Died 1744— A L:. So. 

A. F., l'.orn idoj— iJied 1752— AE. S5. 




im 




s.w^.j«^ #5f?"i 



<l,ihi, .,/ r.,i,i„„n,i rr,n,l.h„ n, l,,„ll ../ fih, Hall, liosl,. 



3o^n SltanxG 

ISy Rf\'. I'^rank 1!. L'rcs>cy of C'aniliridyc. Mass. 

1'J,l;1u niilos south of iJoston and a jiart uf Greater JJos- 
ton is tlie city of Ouincy. Within h\e hundred feet of the 
railroad station and in plain \ icw of all passengers, stands 
tile L'nitarian Church house, a stone structure with mas- 
sive pillars in front, lieneath the porch thus formed in 
stone sarcophagi, lie the bodies of John .\dams. Second 
I'resident of the L'nited .States, and his son, John (Juincy 
Adams, Sixth I'resident. The room of their entonilmient 
is easily x'isited. 

John .\dams was lujrn at <Juinc\ , ( )ct. 30. 1733, and al- 
ways made it his home. sa\c a^ public duties called him 
away tem])orarily — the house, with Us furuitiu'e of nearly 
two hundred years ago, is still standing, anil is open to 
the pulilic, about a mile frcjin the church of his entomb- 
ment. .Mr. Ad.ims was a direct descendant of tlenry 
.Adams, an I'.nglish I'urilau, one of the earliest settlers of 
AIassachusett>. John Adams was graduated from Harvard 
in 1755. sttulied law, and was admitted to the l)ar three 
years later. In 1764 he married Abigail Smith, daughter 
of the I'astor of the Congregational Church at Weymouth, 
a half a dozen miles away, the site of the parsonage a long 
stone's throw from the Xorth Weymouth Railroad Sta- 
tion. ,\ part of this old parsonaL;e still stands in North 
Weymouth N'illage. I'arscjn .'-^mith had told his three 
<l;iughters that Avhen they married he would jjreach fin- 
each a sermon from a te.xt chosen bv themselves. The hus- 
band's choice "f Mary ("Polly") pleased him: therefore he 
was glad to use the text, "^lary hath chosen that good 
part." Hut Abigail's consent to marry John Adams was In- 
no means ])leasing to her iiarson fatlier — too much "social 
step down" for family pride. Therefore, the Parson's streii- 
umis objection to her clio^'en wedding text. "lohn came 
neither eating n< ir drinking and the\- sa\- he hath a de\il." 
llowexcv, .\bigail '-tuck to her text, her father preached 
from it, .and nei-hliorln .od gossips had something t^ t.ilk 
about. 



Walks ami I'alhs .Ihoiil Historic Boston. -77 

'J'hat jolin A(lani> clmsc wisely and that Al^igail Smith 
consented wisely as to her husband is a matter of history. 
Also, it may be well empiiasized, that of all Revolutionary 
patriot wives, none |)ro\ed herself of nobler inold than 
Abigail Smith Adams. In all her husband's public life, 
she was his wisdom and inspiration : their hearts beat sym- 
pathetically along patriotic lines. At the time of John 
Adams' marriage, he, and thousands of other American col- 
otiists, were thinking deeply and not a little \igorousl\-, as 
to their relations to the luiglish ( lovernment. (.)ne jjoliti- 
cal annoyance after another led to the issuance of tiie 
Stamp Act, Avhich commanded the use of Government 
Stamps on \arious documents in order to their legalitv. 
Immediately a fierce njjposition arose, led in no small [)art 
by John .\danis. who took the bold stand that the act was 
"null and void." beci'use rarli.-inient had no right to tax 
the Colonists and that such statutes could lia\e no pos- 
sible force over ])ersons who had not consented to their 
enactment. In other words. "Taxation \\ithout Represen- 
tation" is a violation of man's natural born political rights, 
it is to be resisted to the end. li(jwe\er bitter. All business 
speedily came to a standstill: some of the I'.ritish officers, 
whose duty it was to handle the stanijis, necessarily de- 
clined such handling, while others felt the personal indi- 
vidual force of the opposition and the Stamp Act w,-is re- 
pealed. The "Sons of Liberty" thus speedily showed their 
p<.ivver. llritish stami)s were- no more necessary to .Ameri- 
can colonists than I'.ritish Tea. and they would not be used. 

That John .\dams was a ni;in ti> lie reckoned with, b\' 
the English government, is singularly evidenced b\- that 
offer to him of the office of Advocate ( ieneral inider 
the Crown, .\dams was poor. ;ind in a large sense ncded 
the money, \\hich acceptance of the offer would bring him. 
But to accept the office would close liis mouth against all 
so-called outrages on .\uierican rights. wduM force his de- 
nial of what he had said as to the injustice ui taxation 
withotit representation. Therefore his immediate and em- 
phatic refusal of the offer. Xo similar atti-mpt ;it \iolation 
of patriotic jirinciple was afterwar<ls m;ide. And \et, 
strangely enough to thousands of his comi)atriots. c\cn to 
some American readers of .\meric;in history, in this our 
dav. Mr. .\dams, as a lawyer defended the Rritish soldiers, 
whose firinc!' residted in the so-c:dled P.oston ^Fassacre, 



^7i^ ll'alks and I'olks About flistoric Boston. 

AJarch 5, 1770. l-'or ihis actiun many assailed him in trait- 
orous terms: num.- the less, he did his defence wurk suc- 
cessfully, also he spee<lily rei;'ained the respect of his as- 
sailants, and as before was recognized as the leading law- 
yer im the patriot side. 

In June, 1774, jdhii Adams was chosen one uf h\e dele- 
gates 111 the C'ljiitmental Cungress which was to meet in 
I'hiladelphia the Inlliiwing Septend_)er. (Jne n\ the dele- 
gates did ncit go. the remaining fuur rode in a cuach. "fuur 
liixir inlgrims," as they were called. 

Adani> continued a niemlier (if Congress fur three \earb. 
or till Xovember, 1777. I )urnig these years he tried to in- 
iluce Cong-ess to aildpt the .Ma>sachusetts Army, gathered 
after the Battle uf Lexington, and to make the fight Na- 
tional, with George Washington at its head; he tried to 
|)ersua(le the Colonies to become States, to declare inde- 
liendence, to unite the .States into one Confederation, to 
ni,-ik-e alliances with fui'eign n.ations and t(j establish a 
-\a\y, — thus prosing liim>ell a [Patriot among patriots, a 
leader among leaders. In these three years of service, he 
was Chairman of t\\ein\-hve ( ommittees. and a member of 
sixt_\'-fi\'e more — ninet\ m all. 

In Fel)ruary, 177S, .\lr. .Xdanis, as <ine of the three Com- 
missioners to I'rance, left home, arrixing in I'aris, in .\pril. 
Thus liegan his diplomatic se\ ice, representing the \onng 
and in fact the not \ et fully born American nation, and 
tins at the risk of jiersonal conse<piences by n. 1 means at- 
tr,icti\e. His nnssion speedily accomplished, he was in 
( andiridge in Septembci-, 1770, as a delegate to the Con\en- 
tmn, to form the (Amstitution of Alassachusetts, the writ- 
ini,; I if which finally de\ol\cd almost entireK u]ion him. 
Two months later he .-ig.ain sailed for Euro])e : this tune .is 
one of the L'ommissiouers to treat with ( Ireat I'.rit.ain for 
treaties of peace and commerce: this, three \ears lufore 
the close of the war. I'.ut he could not enter Engkand then 
on account of the strung anti-.\merican sentiment. lie, 
therefore, went to Holland in July, 1780, to borrow money 
lor the I'nited States, and secured ;i lo;in uf t w u million 
dullars, muiiey nmst sorely needed by the .\merican sol- 
diers. ( )n .\]iril ](). I7S_', the anniversary uf the battle of 
Lexington. Molland recognized him as Minister I'lenipo- 
tenti.ary from tile I'nited Sl.ates of .\merica, the first Cov- 
ernmciit to take .■iny such ste]i. June _M. 17S3, a treaty was 



H'alks and Talks About Uistmic Hostoii. -7'» 

signed in i'aris by Adams, l'"rankHn and Jay rfpiTSL'ntinL; 
the United States and hy llie autliorities of France and 
England, and thus the W ar nf the Revolution was offieiall}- 
ended, and to America came the long struggle for blessings 
of peace. February 2^, 1783, Mr. Adams was ajipointcd 
Envoy to ( ireat liritain. The king treated him courte- 
ously, I)ut the ])eo|)le as a whole, had no welcome for him. 
Three years later he was gl.-ul to resign his office and cnme 
home. The time <>{ Mr. \dams' return (17SS) was one in 




Cult 



//.I 



/,,/ Cull,, J, ■ 



which fear of a foreii^n foe liad given jilace to serious do- 
mestic trouliles. The new I'cilcral i lovernment was not 
yet established. Hut in les^ ih.m ,1 yeai- after Mr. Adams" 
return, the Constitution was adopucl and a new ( iovernment 
organized. Washington was unanimouslv elected t'resi- 
dcnt. and Adams elected as \'ice-President, although he 
had nine competitors, h'ight years later, Adams became 
President, but political enemies j)re\ented him from a sec- 
ond term. The strife of p.arties was now fully on. .\dams, 
the I'ederalist, .i^ave w.ay to Jefferson, the Democrat. 
This is said tu have been the great grief of his life. He 
tiiok \\ hat \engeance he could nn Jeft'erson. once his inti- 
ntate friend. He filled many new judicial offices. He even 
left Washington city before sunrise un March 4. and woidd 
unt attend [eft'erson's inagnratioii. Mis nffici.al life was 



ll'alks and Talks About Hisluric Boston. 



closed. His heart was cru'-lu'il. lie retired ti i the ]jrivacy 
of his nuinc_\- Imnie and there lived tintil jid\' 4, i82(>. on 
which day hulh he and Jefferson died, the fiftieth anniver- 
sary (jf the I )eclaration (if Independence. 



CSrncral jfofjii csiobcr 
a Kcboltitionarp ^tto 

One of the finest .-tallies iii r..i-,i()n is that i>f ( .(.■neral 
John Glover, whieli stands in a |ir(Uiiinent iijsitioii mi 
Coninionwealth Avenue and c< ininieniorales the ser\ iees nf 
one of tile jnirest palriuts and hravest officers ni the Ldii- 
tinental Army. \\hate\er he was i^iven to dd, he did 
thcirciii-hly and well, and witlnmt c istenlaticjii. 

llistory has lieeii \ ei'y meai^re in its record iti his i;allant 
anil valualile services and (if ihe n()l.)le character of the man. 
hilt it slii.uld he kiniwii that this conntry is deeply indehted 
t(i this sturdy litllr lierc. this "id.ain man of tln' |ieciple.' 
I'.nt fur him and his ]ir,i\e .Maihlelieadeis. \\ .ishinotdii 
mi^lu nc\er ha\i' wmi his hrilliant success at Treiitnii, 
which so re\i\ed the droii|)iiio s|iirits of the patriots, d'lie 
story of (llij\er's life- reads like a romance and sIkjws his 
eneri;y and innate ahility. I'.e^iiininL; as ;i huinhlc sliot,'- 
maker. in his natixe towii <ii .Marhlehead. he somh hfcaiiic 
master of a sailing; \i.ssel. then owner of ;i fleet of hshiiiL; 
vessels. When hostilities hroke out hetween the mother 
country and tlie colonies. ( iln\er was di.iim;- a larL;e and 
])rosperous Inisiness. The famous liostoii Tea Part\- was 
succeeded hy that odious retaliat<iry measure, the Huston 
I'ort Hill, the intention heiiiL; to cripple I'.ostoii. commer- 
cialK' even if it hrouyht ruin to the town. The men of 
Marhleiiead sympathizecl with their brethren m I'.ostun. 
and as a f>ractical evidence of that syni])athy sent them 
larti'e (piantities of ])ro\-isions ;ind several cartloads of fish 
and oil. and (dover was foremost in all this sjood work. 
The larger proportion of the men of that time were keen 
seafaring;' men and the\ realized hy the close of 1774. thai 
war with ( ireat llrit.ain \\;is inevilahle. and they set to work 
to ort^-anize the militia of the town. The cifficers, up to 
that time had been a|>pointed hy the RoyaL riovernors of 
the Province. I'uhlic opinion now forced the officers to 
resisjjn. and then the men of each compan>- elected their 
own officers. whi"> were given their commissions bv the 



-'><-• Walks nnd Talks .Iboiil Historic Boston. 

tow 11 aiitbi Tities. Klci iL;ni/iiii; the- ahililx , l)ra\erv ami 
]iatrii iti--iii nf tlu-ir frllnw tnwnsnian. ('aptain julm ( ili ivcr. 
thcv elected liim C'dlonel nf the ReLjinient. lie was n<it, 
in his niaken|i, the lieaii ideal nl' a military herci, fur he 




was sliiirt in stature and stout, hut he was of tigliting' stulf, 
of sturd\- manhood, a horn leader of men, and a patriot to 
tlie core. Before the clo^e of the Revolutionary War, in 
•which he bore a most conspicuous p;irt, he proved that he 
ha.d niilitar\- genius of no me.in order, aui! he jjossessed 
llie lo\e and confidence of \\'.[shinL;ton to the verv end. 



Walks ami Talks About llistonc Boston. -'.\f 

lie pr(i\cil that he was an luisultish patriot, fur wIilii war 
had really Ijegun he L;a\c u\i his extensive and prutitable 
business, and devoted the proceeds to the enlistment of men 
and the purchase of su])plies. His fishing vessels were con- 
verted into smart sailing- pri\-ateers. and were manned by 
as brave and skillful seamen as ever sailed the ocean. In 
his work of ori;anizinL; the militia he \\as i;veatly aided by 
the town authorities, lie i.;a\e his men constant and care- 
ful training', and he soon had a thoroughly disciplined body, 
of men. 

The Battle of Lexington soon folliiwed the excursion of 
Colonel Leslie, and then came the nnistering of the Conti- 
nentals. The Marblehead Militia became the 21st Provin- 
cial Regiment. The town records of those days speak of 
the fishermen in the Continental Army. One day a rumor 
ran through the town that soldiers from the liritish man- 
of war in Alarblehead harbor were landing at the ferry 
and the regiment turned out. t'olonel (ilover. at its head. 
The ne.xt day one of Clover's vessels arrived from the 
West Indies. In spite of the orders of the commander of 
the liritish sloop-of-war Merlin, (ilover brought the \essel 
to Cerry"s \\'harf right from under the guns of the enemy. 
On June 10, Glover received order to "continue the regi- 
ment under his connr.and until further orders, and to hold 
them in readiness to m:irch at a moment's notice to any 
post where he max be directed." Six days later he was 
officially commissioned as Colonel by the Pro\"incial Com- 
mittee of Public .^afet\-. and on the 21st, four days after the 
battle of P.unker Hill orders caiue to inarch. His regiment 
reached Caml)ridge the next day ami were (piartered in 
what is tiow known .is the 'T^ongfellow Mouse." 

Of its ten Companies, evcrv oflicer, soldier and musict;in 
— save eight, was a citizen of Marblehead. the only regi- 
ment in tlie war to be- thus rai^e(l from a single ^^own. The 
uniform of the men was a l)lue round jacket and trousers. 
trimmed with leather buttons. Colonel (Hover, himself, 
was said to have been the most finely dressed officer in the 
Continental .\rm\-. The first order issued by Washington 
after taking command, was on the ,^1 of July. 1775. and w:is 
to Colonel CIlo^■er's regiment. The regiiucnl remained in 
cam]> all summer, with the exception of oiie company, 
which was detached in \ugnst to Marblehead for priva- 
teering. Two months later Washington made Glover, vir- 



--■S4 Walks iiiul Talks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 

tually, Sfcretarv ul llu- .\a\y. "l'(pr In- was appi lintud to 
superintt-nd tlif cciuipniciit and manniiiL; nt armed \esM-ls 
\vliich made the first iiaxal ex|)edition. and cajjtiired the 
first prize. In the latter part nf Xo\-ember lie sent tr> Cam- 
bridi^e a \infj; hmiheriiiL; team nf wagons laden \s-ith nnl- 
nance and militarx •^tllres, taken by Captain Alanly from a 
I'.ritish snpph ship. ( )i this e\enl, \\a>hin;_;t< m said: 
"Snv<d\ iii'thinL; cxer came mort' a|)riipi is." jlistcrx has 
handed <l(i\\ii tn ns a Httle incident which occurred while 
tlu- ie'.^imenl was at ( ambridm' which show's the iiidepi'iid- 
eiU sjiirit ami read\ manners df the C'ontinmtal \rni\ . I 




Thr Fif/Iii Tttlinri, tht \ iif/iiiiinix (iiid III,- V ,iihUli,;nir 



i;i\e il in the w^rds ,,\ another: ".\ mimlier of Kille 10111- 
jKiilies had lecentK :iiri\ed at c:mip from \ irL;inia and be- 
tween them and the .\1 arbleheaders much ri\:ilr\ sprnnp; 
up. The X'irniniaiis were stout, hardy men :n wliite frocks, 
or ritle shirts ami r(jnud liats, crack shots to a man. and as 
such, of iLjreat use to W :ishinL;toii's army. 'They walked 
with a swai^.^eriiiL; stride, s|ioke with a St.nthern dr.awl. 
:in(l talked much of their w.irlike prowess and deeds. The 
men of ( ;io\-er's .Marine Kei^inu-nt. who had alre:idy e:iriied 
for thenisehes tlu' .ippelatious of ";im|ihibious," ;iiid "web- 



Walks and lalL's .Ihoiil lllsh:ric Ihistoii. -'.^5 

footed," were >ailiirs ^iiul h>luTnun and dressed as sueh. 
They rolled in their tjait and their voices had the true na-.al 
of the Yankee. They looked ii|ii>n the half Indian e<|ni|i- 
ment, the frinoed and frayed .i;arh of thi'ir Southern neiyh- 
hors, and their manners ami |in.Un-~ic mis with unrestrained 
merriment, while the men of \ ir.i^inia foiinil the Rlarhlehead- 
ers ni) less amiisini^". ( )n (uk' (leeasidu hanterini; ^;a\e wav 
to a siiiiw hall battle, and this, in turn, tci a ,i;eneral tiLjlit. 
in which a full th'ms,ind men were enL';aL;ed. and a tumult 
raised in the camp, in the W'irds nf an eye witness, "w.irth}- 
nf the da\'S ni llduier." Il.i|i|iil\ at this imint W ashiuL;t' m 
him.self appeared. l.eapiuL; frcmi his Ikivsc he •'ushcd intn 
the thickest <if the melee and seized hy the ihrM.at twn 
brawny riflemen, keepinL; them at arm's 'enuith, shakiiiu; 
and l.)eatinL;' them. 

I'.v his ]ironipt and enei-^etic act, the disturhance was ended 
and a permanent peace was m,idc between the men nf the 
.Vcirth and the men (if the ."south. ( in jannar)- i, 1770. when 
then- term of scr\iee e.xpireil h.inllv a man left camp and 
the entire reiiiment re-enlisted fi m- the war and was there- 
after known as the h'ourteenth i Dntinental. In .March. i77'i. 
Washington compelled the I'.ritish td e\acuate I'ldstnii and 
slmrtK alterw arils made his head(|n,irters in .\'ew ^'ork. (n 
jidv ('i)l(inel tildver marched with his regiment ti) Xew ^'l irk 
where he arrived .\u,L;iist o. 177''. and here his re;.;iment per- 
formed one of the i;reatest ex|il(iits nf the war. the s,i\ jni; of 
the .Xtnerican arni\". .and nf W aslnnL;tnn himsell. in the re- 
treat from I^oiii;' Island. .\uL;ust Joth. 177''. The .Vmerican 
tu'niy was spread out in a nlnu; semi-circle stretchint;' frona 
I'aiikis Hook (Jersey ('it\| nu the west and I'.nioklyn 
Heights on the east. It was .1 Inn^; thin line and very vul- 
nerable, (leneral Ilnwe had a lar^e and well trained army of 
British and Hessians on Staten Island and had the support 
of llritish war vessels, ccMumanded by his brother. .Admiral 
Howe, when he shoukl be ready tn umxc a,g'ainst the Ameri- 
cans. Washinti'ton did not knnw' where to move his troops 
t(] meet the attack. The nbjective pnint nf the ISritisli was 
r.rooklvn. -\ut;ust I4tli, l.iiid Ibiwe crossed with his 
forces t(i ( iravesend l'ia\- and two da\s later was ready to at- 
tack the .\meric:ms at llrnokKu. 1 ieneral ( ireene was absent 
on account of illness and the American forces were in com- 
mand of the aged Putnam. ,ind nf .'sullivan, comparatively in- 
experienced and ignorant of the grouufl. Moreover the 



28r, Ij-alks and I'allcs .Iboiit Historic Boston. 

Americans did m it numliL-r <iiK--third as nianv as tlie British 
and wt-rc composed mustK' of nnlraincil militia. 'I he advan- 
taijes were ah with Lord Jlowe, who resolved on a llankint:;' 
movement. While feignin<,f an attack in front, he triok his 
be.st regiments under co^'er of the ni,i;"ht, by a loni; detour 
around the American's left llank to their rear. The actiim 
ciimmenced August ^Jtli and the Americans were caught be- 
tween twii tires, and cut nf'f frcmi their defences. It was a 
lung and desperate light, and the Americans lost hea\-il\-, a 
l.irge mnnher being ca]}tureil. including two generals. It was 
a wry sexere blow to the p.itrint cause, ."-^onie nf the regi- 
ments regained their defences. These Washington reinforced 
b\- new regiments, Init with the Llritish in so strong a position 
the defences were no longer tenable, and only a retreat could 
sa\e the .\merican army from entire destructii m. b'or twenty- 
fiiur liiiurs all the energies of the (,'(inuuander-in-(."hief were 
devoted in making the retieat successful. The ;irmv nuist be 
ferrieil across the I'.ast ri\er to .\'ew York. 

The morning of .\ugust 2i)th opened with the rain falling 
in torrents, Washington ordered every fiat bottomed boat and 
other craft fit for transporting men. down to Xew \'ork and 
at the s.ime time sent an order in another direction to ini])ress 
e\ery kind of water cr;ift from Hell < iate to Spuytten Duyvil 
creek, that could be kept afloat, and that hail sails, or oar>. 
and have all on the b'.ast harbor of the citv liy dark. Towards 
e\ening the I.ong Island troops were to make a feiiU as if 
;ilioiit to attack. Tints the whole fmce was reach ;ind ttnder 
arms to march off ,-it a mometit's tiotice. W'.asliitigtoti ]iut the 
wb(jle niovemetit in charge ol ( olonel ( ilo\"et", who had been 
on tb.at side since the da\ of the battle. The bo.its bad ar- 
ri\'ed and were of ever\ wiriety, row lioats, flat boats, whale- 
boats, perringers, sloops and (jpen sail boats, e\ervtlimg tli.at 
would carr\- a man, or ;i gtm. (olonel (do\er and bis web- 
footed Marlilebeaders at once commenced operations. .\t 
seven o'clock in the evening, the troops commenced to em- 
bark. The militia and least de]X'ndal)le troops were first to 
be loade i. ."starting frotn the I'.rooklvn Ferrv, thev were car- 
rieil i|uickly ami noiselessly over to Xew ^'r)rk. The work 
tr.insporting the militia was not completed until .after lO 
o'clock. Meantime the ebb tide and strong north wind which 
rose and the ])ournig r.ain rendered the sloops and s.ailboats 
tiseless, even when m.anned b\ tile "web-feet." who boasted 
th.it tliev could hatidle e\erv kind of cnift in the worst 



Jl'alks ami I'lilks About llisloiic lUislmi. -'S; 

wcather. I'"(iniinatcl\ a thick fnt;- settled over l-oiii;' Island 
while Xew \'ork remained still clear, l-lvery precantion was 
taken to yuard against discovery and the retreat was con- 
ducted sn noiselesslv. that the last to leave could hear the 
blows of pick and axe of the enemy, who were constructint;' 
l)csieL,^inf;' lines outside of the American defences. "For thir- 
teen lonij hours, these hardy seamen of Marhlehead plied 
their ninftled oars, with steady strokes, their boats loaded to 
the "L;unnalls" on a sea as smooth as ,t;"lass, luitil the last of 
tile eiuire armv were safe across the mile of water to New 

\\ hen the fosj; scattered and the sun shone out the British 
looked out on deserted forts, not an American remained. 
The only capture the liritish made was a little bo.it of three 
stras'ijlers. "The brilliancv of the retreat atoned fen- the dis- 
aster of the battle, and all credit for its success was due to 
the AVebfeet,' the Marine Regiment and their lirave and 
skilful commander. Colonel John ( dover, without whom it 
could not have been acci>mpli>heil." In recognition of his 
services W'ashinnton ap])ointed Colonel dlover to the com- 
mand of the brigade of Colonel Clinton who was taken pris- 
oner in the battle. Clox-er's own re.^-inient formed part of 
the brii^ade. In that position he had opportunity to show to 
friend ;uid foe alike, the mettle (jf the men of Marhlehead. 
Hurins; the remainin;:; UKJUths of the \\-,\x I77'i. the fortimes 
ot the .\merican ainiy were at tile ver\- lowest. The men 
were dis])irited and deserted in larg'c numbers, oiu- retreat 
followed close upon the other. Tlie Americans had not been 
Innj:;- in New York before W'asliin^ton saw that it was unten- 
able and must be jriven up. an<l lie decided to cross oxer to 
New Jersey. Again Colonel (diner, wlm was still in ci.ini- 
nianil nf Clinton's briga<k', and his "wel)feet" manned their 
boats and can-ied ^nu men in s;ifet\ across the .North ri\'er. 
The sick were transj)orted to New Jersev Hospitals and the 
next day the heavy baggage, arms, and ammunition were re- 
moved. -After fi hours of hard, continuous labor, the e\acua- 
tion w;is nearl\ completed, when this little Iron llrig.ade re- 
ceived orders to march to King's I'.ridge. fifteen miles distant. 
They had b.irdly unstrapped their knajisacks and had had no 
refreshment, when wor came to them that Ceneral Howe had 
at last marched up the I'.ast Rixer and was landing at Kip's 
Bay, and (lloxt-r and his men were recalled to Harlem seven 
miles south. "It was a sorrv siijht that met his eves when he 



^■.•^ ll'alks ami Tulles About Historic Boston. 

rcachfil his (k'^ttnatidii. TIk- r(.\L;inieiits sent to resist the 
landinsj; of the I'.riti'-h had heen (h'iven from the shore l)y the 
cannonadinu- of the war ships in the ri\'er and were panic 
stricken and retreatintj. This had in turn communicated it- 
self to the troops sent to their rehef. for they were, for the 
most part, raw niihtia, and tlie wimle detachment were in a 
wild lliL;ht toward Kind's Uridine with the I'.ritisli at their 
heels. "In their mad rush the\ met < ilover and his men. tired 
from their hard service, but marchins:;- with the firm and 
assured tread nf xcterau'^. rhe\' halted, formed ai^ain, took 
cciura,!_;"e and were rivuK' tn ?4(i h.ick and meet the enemy. 
l')Ut W'ashin^tiin did not dare trust them to .i;r) a,i;ain into bat- 
tle, (jeneral ( il(i\-er's brit^ade. alone', could not save the day, 
and relnctanth. he marched his men back to the north of the 
island, but he bad borne himself like a hero, ami had won the 
la^tiuL;' friendship and reL;ard of Washington. .V little later, 
in an explcjit at \'iM\ I'oint he was attain to show those qual- 
ities which made him so reliable at all times. The Com- 
mander-in-Chief could alwa\'s depend on his coura_c;"e, com- 
mon sense and L;ood juilnnient. With bis brigade of less 
than a thousand men be had ])vv\\ attached to General Lee's 
di\ision and was statioiu-(l on the l{ast Chester road near Pel- 
ham, to watch the enenu'. "Lord 1 lowe was pilanninL;" to take 
his troops across to Kind's I'.riduie and L;et in the rear of the 
American position. "< >n the niornini,;- of ( )ctober iSth. the 
llritish commander landed se\eral corps at Lells I'oint at 
the mouth of llnlcbins(]n River and immediateh' marched 
towards Xew Rorbclle, These mo\ements had been noted b\ 
("olcjuel (ilover who. .after scndinu; oft a messaL;e to Ceneral 
Lee, marched down with 330 men .and three field ]iieces to 
f)p|iose their l.indin;.;-. It was the first fi.L;Lt in which Colonel 
( iloNcr iiad held the chief connnanil and conscious of bis kicl-; 
of scientific militar\' traimii^;. he w.is not ;i little lU'rvous at 
tile responsibilit-\-. "Surprised lo find the I'.ritisb .advaitce 
L;nard nearer than be bad supposed, be. none the less, ar- 
r,in,L;ed to the best ad\-antaL;e bis little force, all men from 
Massaclnisctts incluilins^ his own Alarlilebeaik'rs. Keed's 
rcL^iment be stationeil on the left of the road, near the great 
boulder stone, since known as ( do\er's Rock, and Sbepperd's 
and I'.aldwin's to the right and re.ir of it. behind a stone wall. 
T'art of his own regiment be posted with the three guns on a 
hill in the rear and with 40 men be nio\ed forward to meet 
the I'.ritish. .\fter a brisk skirmish with the advance mirird 



ll'alks and Talks Aboitt Historic lUistaii. -'^') 

wliicli was (|iiii'kl\ reinfcirccil. lu' sUiwly fell l)ack while tlic 
enemy followed with a shout until they came within thirty 
yards of the point where Keeil's regiment lay concealed. 
The latter then rose and poured a volle\ into the t'ritish 
ranks, forcing- them back in confusion until their main fcn'ce 
ap])eared, some 4000 men witii artillery. 

I 'nder the cover of their ,i;uns the British advanced again 
and the Americans after exchanging; several rounds were 
forced to retire, lirst t(] Shepperd's ])osition, where a sharp 
figlit was maintained, the men hring hy divisions, and then 
kee])ing' up a constant tire, and then to P>aldwin"s. finally re- 
treatini;- to the hill, where the I'.ritish. with all their superior 
ninnbers did not dare to atack and contented themselves with 
a desultory fire. .\t dark Glover withdrew his men and 
marched about three miles to Dobb's T'"erry near the main 
body. "After fighting all day without victuals or drink, lay- 
ing as a picket all night, the heavens civer us and the earth 
under us, wdiich was all we had. ha\ing left our bag,gage at 
the old encampment in the morning." Although forced to 
withdraw finally. Colonel ( dovei' had, l)y his stubborn stand, 
served materially to check the I'.ritish advance and it has 
been said "that he had thereby the honor of being the first 
to resist the landing of a I'.ritish army on the maiidand of 
America." 

rile folliiwing da\ < ieneral l,ee sent his w .irmcst thanks 
to (dhinel (dii\er and the brigade under his cdmmand 
"not onl\ fur their gallant beh.axicir a esterday . but ii ir their 
prudent, ci.nl, crderK .and s(ildierdike C(induct ui all re- 
spects." l-'rnm Washington also came thanks and cmn- 
inendation. December |(|. 177'.. 'rh( .mas I'aine c msirlered 
the blackest ninment . .f the American Rcm >lutii .11, ,incl >aid 
in the Fentisyh anirL h.m-nal: "These .are the times that try- 
men's souls. The smnmer soldier and the sunshine patriot 
will, in this crisis shrink f'uni the ser\ ice i.f his country, 
but he tli.at stands now deser\ es the thanks of man or 
Woman." There were continu.d disasters ti. the American 
arms. After the battle of White I'lains, Washington 
abandoned the entire island nf Xew ^'l .rk and b'ort Wash- 
ington on the Hudson commanded b\ (ieneral (ireene had 
been taken and with it ,^000 American triH)|is. W.ashing- 
ton's armv at this time was but a "forlorn Impe" ,ind lie 
saw it graduallv melting away. lie was dri\en down the 
west side of the Iludsnn and across Xew lersew anil the 



^'jo Walks ami Talks Abniil Historic Boston. 

eiK-iiiy w ithin a day's march ruady to attack and capture him. 
In the last week of December his army was strengthened bv 
reinforcements of Pennsylvanians, and now in his camp on 
the Pennsylvania side <i\ the river he was planning how to 
wrest a victriry fmni the enemy and thus check his 
ad\ ances. 

"In his army was Cnh.nel ( duver with his brigade, in- 
cluding his own regiment thr brave and devote. 1 webfeet 
of :Marblehead. He had f.uiglit l)ravely against .McDougal 
at I'hatterton Hill and had maintained a stnl.iborn d.efence 
against an enemy of greatly superior numbers. Later he 
had been stationed at North Castle with Lee's army and 
udien Lee was captured he had marched under ."^ullivan to 
rejoin A\'ashingt(in nn the Delaware. Washington's army 
at this time did not number o\er oooo men and wee scat- 
tered for 30 miles along the river." The Xew Lngland reg- 
iments were so poorly provided with blankets and camp 
equipage and such meagre stores of every kind that it was 
necessary to send men about the country to Iniv and beg 
old clothing and blankets for the freezing men." Tt vv'as 
with these men that Wasliington planned to make what 
will ever be known ;i'- dUe of the most daring and succesf- 
fid ciaqis in history. ( >n the (ipposite side <if the river 
from his lines was Trenton and here were stationed three 
regiments of Hessians with a detachment of artillerv un- 
der the general c.^mmand of Colonel Rahl. There were no 
intrenchments and the guarils were careless. The Ger- 
mans, true til their traditions and customs of "fatherland" 
were holding high c.irnixal mi (hristmas ])a\', and, confi- 
dent I'f their own niilitar\' strength, thev never tlii>ught of 
any trouble from the "farmers" across the ri\er. Wash- 
ington knew this. If he could strike a blow at such a time 
and inflict a defeat upon the enemy it would restore the 
lost morale to his army .uid in>]iire the conntr\' with new 
hiipe and courage. A Cduucil of officers \v:is held a few 
da}-s previous to the propositi attack and Washington un- 
folded his ]ilans. The ,L;r(at ditticulty was in cr. is--ing the 
river. It is related that Culoiiel (ihner. who was one of 
the Council, said; "^du nec<l not be troubled about that, 
fiener.al, niv boys can arran'..;e it." The time chosen for the 
attack was Christmas night, w lien it was tlnuight the Hes- 
sian debauch \vould be ,it it-- height and they would fall an 
e;is\- prev in a sudden and unexpected attack. .\s in the 



H'alks ami Talks About Historic Boston. -9' 

case of the retreat fruin I. on;; Island, a lar.^e nunil)er of 
boats were collected and stationed at different points along 
the river bank as it was i)r((])osed to cross in three places. 
Washington, with the main army, 2000 strong, was tn make 
the direct att.ick. h'.arly Christmas morning the final 01- 
ders were gi\en and hy ,^ o'clock in the afternoon all tlu' 
troops ordered on the expedition were in motion toward 
the ri\'er. There wa-^ a little snow mi the gri>nnd and 




//.,„/,, 



1 1 roinhiidyc. 



AFajor Wilkinson says : "the r 
easily traced for the snow wa 
blood from the feet of the me 
On Christmas Day, the ri 
there was a swift current ,in 
and cold. In the boats \\ait 
lir,i\e Marldeheaders, the nn 
alri'.ady famous as the heroes 
now to win still greater Lanre 
for the great Comander-in-C 
stood on the brink of the ri\i 
rushed into the current. At 
Knox, of Boston, Chief Artill 
voice made the Commander 



onte of the poor soldiers was 
s. here and there, tinged with 
n who wore broken shoes." 
\er was full of floating ice, 
1 the weather was ver\- bleak 
ing for the troops, were the 
uli ridiculed "Wehfeet,'" but 
if 1-ong island, and who were 
Is by making victory possible 
'hief.'" Cieneral Washington 
■r watching the boats as tliey 
his side was Colonel Henry 
ery Officer, whose stentorian 
nrders clearlv understood 



Walks and Talks .Ihonl Historic Boston. -"93 

across the stream. And tlie men of .Marblehead, clad in 
their serviceable Init well-worn nnforms of blue jackets and 
leather buttoned trousers, lient to their oars and time after 
time ferried the boats across the river." Washington 
plannd to complete the crossing by midnight, but so violent 
was the weather tliat it was four o'clock in the morning of 
the 2(>th before the last man w as across and the army ready 
to march. It was only expert Ixiatnien who could have han- 
dled those boats in -uch a current with the masses of ice 
striking against them. The crossing was made more dit'ti- 
cult by a snow storm of mingled snow an<l hail which set 
in towards morning. .\n eye witness said of the scene: "It 
was as se\-ere a night as I ever saw. the frost was slitirp, the 
current difiticult lii stem, the ice increasing, the wind high, 
and at eleven o'clock it began to snow. It was onl\- with 
the greatest care and labor that the horses and artillerx 
could be ferjied across the vi\er. Twn br.i\-e men were 
frozen to death and ;i third would ha\e i)eris!ied had not his 
benumbed body l)een found in time. The m.irch from the 
ferry to the \illage w;is cold and cheerless. It is told that 
on the wa_\'. Captain John ( llo\er. a son <if the ("olonel, 
finding that the snow .md sleet had rendered the muskets 
useless, reported the fact to (leneral Snlli\an. "W'tdl. 
boys." he replied, "we nirst light thetn with the ba\-onet." 
Washington sent a like reply. "Tell the • ienev.il to use the 
ba\cinet and ])enetrate into the town, for the town luust be 
taken and 1 ;im resoKed to take it." The town w ;is taken. 
The surprise w.'is complete and whojh- snccessfnl. The 
Hessians, roused from their heavy slumbers, were attacked 
before thev could make adeipiate preparations t'or defence, 
their own cannon tr.iined on them, .•ind their regiments 
broken up and captured. ( 'oloiiel ( )lo\ it .and his men. tired 
as the\' were froiu the long' .and .arduous night's work, dis- 
tinguished themselves no less in the b.attle th.an at the cross- 
ing. "^'ea^s afterwards in a speech bet'ore the Massachtt- 
setts Legislature. General Kno.x eulogized (ieneral Glover 
and his men for their work of that night. "There." he said 
in conclusion, "went the fishermen of Marldehead. alike at 
home upon land or w.ater. .ilil<e ardent, patriotic and un- 
flinching. wheiKwer the_\' unfuile<l the llag of their country." 
( )n the battle monttment commemorating this brilliant 
stroke of Washington is a statue of one of the men of 
("Clover's Marblehead legiment. gun in h.and, ,as he .a])iieared 



-■'U Walks mid Talks .Iboiit Historic Boston. 

in thai laiiiuus right. Ilislurians all agree that thi^ battle 
tunic 1 the crisis of the Ive volution and saved the fortunes 
of the Nation, and to the brave Marbleheaders, led by their 
intrepid L'dlunel J(jhn Lllover, the honor is largely due. Al- 
though he had nutabh' distinguished himself wherever he 
had been placed, and had on several important occasions 
commanded a brigade, it was not until February 1777, that 
Congress appointed him a LSrigadier-General. His modesty 
and his regard for the welfare of his family led him to de- 
cline it. lie had sacrificed much of his property in his sud- 
den departure frmn home, and his long absence from home 
made it ilifficult tn find the means of sujiport of his wife 
and eight children. Washington feared to hxe the ser\ices 
of this brave and capable officer, who, on mure than one 
occasion, had saved the fortimes of the Army and the Na- 
tion, and he urged Glover to accept the api)i:iintment and 
remain in the service. He wrote (dnver: "I put your name 
down in the list wf those whom 1 thought proper for the 
command and wIidui I wish to set' jireferred. I think I may 
tell vou, without llattcry that I know nf no man lietter qual- 
ified th;in \<iu to coniiuand a brigailc. \<<u ha\ e :uti\it\. 
energ\'. and as xou \'er\- well know the duties nf :i 1 ulducl. 
vou kniiw how to ex:ict that dut}' fmni others." 

Glo\er vielded to Washington's request and went tn Peeks- 
kill to rejoin his brigade. Ide found them in a shocking con- 
dition, "without coats, breeches, stockings or shoes, many of 
them having nothing but a frock and blanket to cover their 
nakedness." Two regiments had no teut'^ I'.urgnyne and 
his allies were near Saratoga and in July, (ilnxcr recei\ed or- 
ders to go with his brigade to reinforce Schuyler, who was 
being hardly pressed by the enemy. The woods on the way 
swarmed with Indians, and many of the scouting parties 
were cut (iff, killed, scalped, and l.aKen ])ri~-()ners. at least 250 
or 300 within two days. In the battle of Piemis Heights, Sep- 
tember Kith, Glover's brigade made a part of the American 
right wing, and "in one continual blaze'' helped to hold the 
hills near the river against all British attacks. In the second 
battle of ()ctober 7th the Marblehead regiment {,»<]< a most 
]irominent part, the rest <>! the brigade being held in re- 
serve. ".\gain and a,L;:iin they broke thr.pu-h ihe I'.nti^h 
lines, cajjtured their aitillery, and by a determined bavcjnet 
charge and a desperate hand to hand fight broke the camp 
itself. Glover, himself had three horses shot frum under 



Walks and Talks Ah, nit Ilisluric Boston. J')5 

him that day. Init escaped w ilhdut wuuiul, but many ul his 
brave men were less foitimate. J'2\en the stolid Jlessians 
expressed their amazeiiuiU when they saw those brave 
Alarbleheaders dash thruiv^h the lire of t^rape and caiinister, 
over the dead bodies of their comrades, through the em- 
brasures, over the cannon with the same asilit\- with which 
they had fre(|uently climbed tu the main top, baycmctting 
the canminiers at their posts. "(ilii\er's triio|)s evinced the 
coolness and agilitN- if sailors in their attack, and showed 
that they coidd nse the baxunet with as nnicli >kill and 
effect as the 'niaidin' or 'hamlspike' aboard ship. (_ieneral 
Gates pursued the discomfited British to Saratoga, and 
believing that liuiguyue had removed the main boily of his 
army to h'ort lulwarij. he ordered an attack on the cam]) 
as he thou.ght, of the rear guard of the British army. Gen- 
erals Xixon and Glo\'-r were in the ad\ ance. and ihr former 
was alreadx- across ."-^ar.ito^a Creels when ( do\er learned 
from a captured I'.ritisli soldier, that r.urgoyne"s wliole 
arnu", instead of reti'eating, was drawn u]i under co\ er of 
the woods across the creek, sujjported by artillery. 

"Quickly grasping the situation, General (jlo\'er immedi- 
ately sent to recall Nixon, though the latter was his supe- 
rior, saving him from destruction and the \mcrican army 
from great loss, thereby- hastening I'.urgoyne's surrender 
which was made a few days later. General Glover had the 
honor of guarding and conducting the army of prisoners to 
their destination at Cambridge, and in the task he showed 
that his tact and fairniindedness were no less than his 
energv and his courage. On November 7, he delivered his 
prisoners on the verv grotmds where two years betore he 
and his "webfoot" regiment had first appeared in the Ciin- 
tinental service. General Glover's health at this lime began 
to fail and his family were almost in want, and but for his 
lovaltv to the patriot cause he would gladly have resigned. 
In' August 1778 he raised volunteers from Boston and Mar- 
blehead and he joined in the attack on Newport under 
General Sullivan, after the departure of the French fleet and 
the destruction of half of the army in the hot and successful 
battle of Botts Hill. The following ni.ght the Americans, 
finding their position no longer tenable, General Glover and 
his Marbleheaders were once again in their boats, and 
transferred the whole .\merican force from Rhode Island lo 
the mainland at Ti\-crton, without the loss of a man. I lis 



296 Walks anil 'J'alLs .Ihoiit Historic Boston. 

wife (lii-il ill .\i>\rml>rr. and in l'cl>riiar\ fnll. i\\ in,o- he was 
.L;rantc(l a Inrlnn-li t^ M-ttle hi> ati'air>. 

J"lu' j<ilin (iliivcr ^t.itne cm (/i ininmnw ealtli Avenue is by 
-Martin AFillniore and was L;i\en ti> tlie City of liostoii by 
I'.enjaniin Tn ler Keed in 1S73. It is ,,i lir.,nze. of heroic 
size, and represents tlie sturdy ohl sdldier in Continental 
unifiiriu, with tlie heavy i)\erc(iat hani^iu-- in graceful folds 
from his shcmlders. [lis h-ft R-l; is advanced with the foot 
resting on a cannon, -iiid in his ri^jht iiand he holds a sWord. 
the |)cjiiit resting on the L;ri'und, whiU- the ein|)t\ scabliard 
is L;rasi)ed in liis left, ddie inscription is as follows: 

|( )IIX (,1.( )\'ER 

of Marblehead 

A Soldier of the Revohition 

lie coiiiiiianded a regiment of one thousand men 

raised in that town, known as the Marine l\eL;iiiiein 

And enlisted to ser\e through the war. 

lie joined the camp at I'ambridLje |nne 22(\ 1775 

And rendered distini^uished service in traiisportinu; the 

.\riii\ from llrcjoklyn to .\'e\v ^'ork .\umist JiHh. 177'' 

and across the Melaware I )ecemlier _'3th, i 770 

lie was ap])ointcd In the ( 'ontinental Congress, a r.ri;_;adier 

( ieneral on l-"eliniary J7. 1777 

I'.y his l'ouraL;e. l'-neiy;y. .Militar\ Talents he secured the 

contideiice of \\ asliin;.;ton and the L;ratitude of his conntrv. 

I'lorn \o\ ember 5. 173J 

hied at .Marblehead |aiinar\- ,v '707. 

I-ater he had command of the 1 'epartmeiit of l'ro\idence 
and was also stationed at Rid^eheld and I'eekskill. llis ill 
health still continued. Muring; the \ ears 1 7S0 and 1 7S 1 he 
was, for niciSt of the time with his bri-ade .it West I'oint 
;iiid w;is a member of the militarx court which sentenced 
Major .\ndre. After the snn-eiider of Lord ('ornwallis at 
Yorktowii he received his Last commission to take chari^e 
of musterino- ami furnisliiiiL; of trooj)s from Masacluisetts. 
In the s|)rin>;' of 17XJ he wrote to W'ashiiiLjton : "In-^tead of 
^rowiuL; better I hnd myscdf much weaker. m\ whole frame 
beiiii;' exceedinL;l\ shattered and debilitat<'d .mil m\ nervous 
system so much weakeiieil that were I to i^ain a kim;'dom [ 
Could not make ,1 journey of 20 miles." July _\^. 1 7S-> he 
was retirt.'d on half pa\- b\- Congress and went home to .Mar- 
blehead to his motherless children. 



ll'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. -'<)7 

He had init himsi-ll' and his furtuiK- intij ihc l\c\oluti<)n 
and now tliat his vitality was nearly exhansted and his for- 
tune absorbed, he did not complain. "His youth was gone, 
and he had no capital, so he partitioned off a corner of his 
sitting room for a workslidp and made and cob.bled shoes 
for a living." 

llis fellow tiiwnsmin who lii\ed and respecte<l him and 
had watched w ith pride his career in the Arm\' did not f<;)r- 
get him now. They made him Selectman of the town and 
twice elected him Representative to the Massachusetts Leg- 
islature. In 17S8. with his brother Jonathan and hi*^ old 
friend Ager ( )rder he was sent to the State Conventicm to 
vote for the ado])tion of the I'ederal Constitution, lie clied 
January 30. \~<)J in his (i_;th \car. ( )ut'^ide u! his tuwn of 
Marbleheail. his dc.-ith was liardK ncited bv the conntrx' fur 
wlinni he fmiglit ^1 > lir.ixelx ;ind td whnse interest he had 
de\oted his life and fortune. 



Ocnrial l?riuT Knot 
SooKScllcr, patriot, (Brnrral anli Sifcrrtarj' ot Lliai 

As in the case of General John Glover, so General llenr\- 
Knox has not received in general histories the meed ol 
honor due his ability, his gallantry and patriotism. l;'>y his 
character and solid merit he rose in rank, step by step, win- 
ning the confidence and friendship of Washington to an 
unusual degree. He was an able and fearless general, a 
great Secretary of \^'ar at a critical period in our history, 
and his declining years were spent as a model citizen of the 
country he helped to make and which he dearly loved. His 
was such a human, strong and sound life story that all 
Americans may well be proud of him. \\\-ishington Irving 
says of General Knox: "He was one of those providential 
characters which spring up in emergencies as if formed by 
and for the occasion." 

He threw up a thriving business to take up arms for the 
liberties of his country. The aptness and talent displayed 
by him as an artillery officer induced Washington to rec- 
ommend him to Congress for the command of the regiment 
of artillery, in place of the veteran Gridlcy who was con- 
sidered by all the officers of the camp too old for acti\e 
engagement. 

Hon. James Sullivan, in his bonk, "Familiar Letters i>n 
Public Characters" gives quite a minute account of the en- 
gaging character of the man Knox, who within his manly 
frame, had a woman's heart and tenderness. It is generally 
conceded that he came of Scotch origin. His father, Will- 
iam Knox, was one of a company of immigrants under the 
spiritual leadershiji of Rev. John Muirhead, who in ]J2<) 
sailed from Belfast, Ireland, to Boston, to found a religious, 
society, which later became the Federal Street Church, in 
1/35 William Knox married Mary Campbell, whose father 
was a member of the congregation. Flenry Knox ^vas the 
seventh of their ten sons, four of whom reaclu'd nianliM.ul. 
and two of these were lost at sea in 1769. 



300 



Walks and Talks .Ihoiit Histuric Boston. 



W illiain Kimx was a sliipniastt-r. and it is CAident that 
for a time at least lie was prospered in hi> calling as he 
owned not only a large and comfortaljle dwelling Init also 
a wharf nearlty. In this house, located near the corner of 
Federal and Sunmier Streets. Henry Knox was horn in 1750, 
and here he li\-ed until he was eight years of age. The 
liMU^c. altlmugh M>uK-what cli;iuged in ;ii)pearance stood un- 
til iSjJ when, like ni.niy other old lanilin;irk<. it went down 




lal Knox 



in that whirl wintl of tiaiue that swept the husiness district 
of lli'stdu. J-"inancial rexerses o\ert(iok William Knox and 
he was compelled tn sell his home. In 1759 he sailed for 
St. Eustatia, \\'est Indies, where he was reported to have 
heen horn, evidently intending to take his family there later, 
hut he died snddenK- in 1762. leaving his familv hut very 
little property. At that time Heiirv had tiearly completed 
his gramiuar schci. .1 cnurse and in all prohahilitv would 
have gone to the Latin .School on School Street. Avhere the 
Adamses and ll.ancocks had graduated, l)ut he was com- 
pelled at this early ;ige to contrihute his part toward the 
support of the family, and this ended his schooling. As an 
apprentice he entered the hook store of Wharton iv Piowes 
whii were located on the south crirner of State .iiiil W.asli- 



Jl'alks ami Talks Aboitl Historic Boston. A'>' 

ingtuii Streets. While lu may ha\e liad mi clmice in tile 
matter, it is evident lliat the necnpation proved a very cun- 
t;'eiiial and happy one for hini. I lis enn)loyer, Mr. Nicholas 
Bowes, was a very e.xcellent lientleniaii and was like a 
father t(i the lad. "The hooks offered to his active and in- 
quisiti\-e mind the education that he sought. E\ery ■^pare 
moment in the shop he tilled with reading", to what ;^ood 
effect, sul)se(|uent correspondence, hoth ofticial and |ier- 
sonal, clearly shows. In addition he accpiired an excellent 
knowledge of i-'rench. and later on this proved an asset ol 
great value to him. ( )ne of his favorite authors was I'lu- 
tarch. in whose ])ages. full of generals and heroes, he ma\ 
well have gained his first taste of a military career. While 
he had a highlv intellectual nature, he was a strong and 
imposing figure jthx-sicalh . tall and commanding and fond 
of athletic s|)orts. lie was the champion of the ."^ontli I'.ml 
faction, leading their forces in the mimic combals. with the 
bovs of the North F.nd, who were often headed by Paul 
Revere." On the night of the 

l',( JS'POX MASSACRE 

March t. 1770, voung Knox arriveil on the scene of action, 
wdiile on his way lionie from a visit to some friends in 
Charlestown. lie had great influence with the people and 
went among them exerting himself to the utmost to pre- 
serve peace. He urged the excited crowd not to rtish upon 
the soldiers, and seizing Captain Preston by the coat he im- 
plored him not to let his men fire, but a blow was struck, 
then followed a shot and nuire firing. The crowd fled, but 
left behind them three men dead, and eight wounded, two of 
them, UKirtalh'. The scenes he witnessed that night made 
him an ardent ]iatriot, ready to offer his services when the 
inevitable conflict came five years later. In the "Boston Ga- 
zette," July 29th. 1 77 1, the following notice appeared. 

"This day is opened a new London Book .Store by Henry 
Knox, opposite Williams Court on C'ornhill (Washington 
Street) Boston, who has just imported on the last ships from 
London, a large and very elegant assortment of books, the 
most modern books in all branches of Literature, .Arts and 
Sciences (catalogues of which will be published soon") and 
to be sold as cheap as can be bunght ,i-t any place in town. 
.Mso a complete assortment of Stationery." 



30-2 Walks a)ul Talks About Historic Boston. 

He had spent nine years as an apprentice with Wharton & 
Bowes, and at the early a.s;e of 21 he entered into liusiness on 
his own account, notwithstanding the threatening aspect of 
pohtical affairs. < ieneral I lenry Burbeck, a contemporary 
friend uf Henry Knijx. says the store "was a great resort for 
the British ocers and 'fury hidies. who were the '^(X) of 
that period." And Harrison (iray (Jtis. another friend, 
says: "It was a store of great display and great attraction for 
young and old, and a fashionable morning lounge." Here 
the literary and wealthy people of the town could meet for a 
morning chat, exchange bits of gossip, discuss political mat- 
ters, read the jiapers, buy the latest book, or any article 
carried under the ela>tie name of stationery. Records show 
that he did consideral)le bu>iness for those days, as he 
bought in ten months, of a single London printer, books to 
the value of £2o6C). These were books on law, medicine and 
theology, amnng the Latter, a large number of "Baxter's 
Saints Rest." Wdi-ks df tiction Ijy Richardson and l-'ielding 
and Sterne, and from l\i\ingtcin, the Tory jirinter of New 
^ urk. he recei\eil many copies of De Foe's "Riibinson 
Crusde." When the non-importation agreement went into 
force in IJJO. the traffic in English books ceased. ,inil then 
there \\;is ;i demand for American. 

At the age oi iS. l\nox joined the Artiller\- C'ompany. 
known as "The Train." composed iargelv I'f ."^outh luid 
mechanics and shopkeepc-rs, under command of .Major I'ad- 
dock. a most efficient drill mastei". and the Patriot Armv in 
the Ivevolutionary \\ ar owed much to the training of this 
doughty old Tory. Knox in 1772 \\'as one of the founders 
of tile "Boston Cienadicr ('oqis," an <ittsho(.it of the .\rtillery 
Company. They ^\ ere all tall men. not one being under 5 
feet 10 inches in lieighl. Tlieir handsome uniforms and fine 
military bearing elicited praise even from l'.riti>h officers. 
Henrv Knox was second in command, and his splendid fig- 
ure in uniform, won him many admiring glances from the 
ladies whene\er the C'ompan\ drilled on the Common. One 
\oung ladv. Miss Luc\- b'luck-cr, was especially attracted by 
the handsome \'Oung officer, and the result proved that lie 
was not insensil)le to her charms. She was the tlaughter of 
Thomas Flucker, the Royal Secretary of the Province, who 
i.s described as "a high toned loyalist, of great family pre- 
tensions," and possessing much wealth and influence. 
Harrison Crav Oti^ writes of Miss Flucker th.it she "was 



Walks and Talks Aboul Historic Boston. ,VM 

cli.stini;uished as a ynuny lady of hi.uli intellectual endow - 
nients, very fomj of l^ooks, especially of the books sold by 
Knox, to whose shelves she had frequent recourse, and so 
while orators reared and ministers caused unwise laws to be 
])assed, and the day nf l)attles drew nearer, the daughter of 
the Tory official and the rebel shopkeeper quietly carried on 
their courtship anmni; the books." The old Tory, proud of 
his Ilu.L::uenut ancestry and of his loftv position and influ- 
ence, looked with great disfavor upon the suit of Knox and 
"they pleaded earnestly with the stubborn Lucy, urging her 
to give up her crazy fancies. Hut though only i8 years old. 
the young lady had a will of her own, and she was very 
much in love, as was Kno.x also. So in the end to avoid the 
scandal nf an ilnpenient, the family g;i\e a ;_;ru<lging cnn- 
sent, and June 16, 1774, the two were married. Every hour 
the war was drawing nearer. Init fur 10 miuitli^ Knox re- 
mained in lliisldu anil carrieil cm his business, lie was of- 
fered great inducements to take ser\ice in the knxal cause, 
but he not only declined all such offers, but o])en]\- .isserted 
liis jjatriotic sympathies. 

Failing to win him over, he was helil under strict surveil- 
lance and forbidden to lea\e town. 1 le was. for ,'i time, cou- 
tentcil lo remain. lie was happih- married and his stoi'e 
was pa\ing him well. ])articul.arl\ the stationi-ry. jirinting 
and binding de])artments, for he had no competition. When 
the first shot was fired at Lexington, April iq, 1775, he could 
no longer remain away from the cause he held so dear, and 
he and his wife left the town secretly that night, his wife 
carrying in the lining of her cloak the sword he had worn in 
the militia ser\ice. 

Hritish ;ind Tories might now ravage his shop :is they 
pleased, henceforth his place was in the patriot ranks. With 
that sword he was to car\e out his fortune. For better or 
worse he was now with the defenders of the patriot cause 
On his arrival at the American camp he was offeveil a coiu- 
mission, but declined, for a time, to accept one. ])referring 
to serve as a volunteer. He had studied mi!it;irv science 
and engineering and he planned and superintended, a line of 
fortifications around I'.oston. lie planned ,-ind built the fort 
on Roxbury Neck, known as Roxburv I'ort. which com- 
manded the sole exit from Boston. \\ hen General Wash- 
ington examined the works built 1>\" Knov, lie expressed 
great pleasure and surprise at their situ.ation and utility. 



.^04 Walks and Talks .Iboiit Historic Boston. 

General Xathaniel (ircene. witli his klmde Island contin- 
!;ent, was at Cambridge, and lie and Knnx became fast 
friends and were constantl_\- tugetlu-r. (dover, Knox and 
(Ireenc. \\ere men drawn frnm the ranks uf the people, and 
were snddenly transferred fimi civil to military pn.rsnits, 
each one (jf whcun wmi distingnishcil honcir as suldiers. being' 
bra\e. resourcefnl and energetic. 

They enjciyed tlie f;illest ix-spect and contiilence of Wash- 
ington, aiiil ( .n their part they were thordnghlv lo\al and 
devoted t(i their great chief. Knox expressed his pleasnre 
at the ease and dignity with which Washington filled his 
exalted state as Conimander-in-C'hief. I )uring- the siege of 
r.iistiin. siege guns were sadl\- needed. The fertile and ac- 
ti\e nnnd of Knox cmiceived the ilaring enterprise of send- 
ing tci l~ort Ticdnderiiga mi Lake (."hamjilain and dragging 
fruni thence the iirdnance captured b\- l^than .Mien, when the 
fori was surrendered tii him, and which was l\ing there lui- 
uscd. Ik- submitted his plans in Washingtcin. wlm. after 
cirefid thought, gave them his apprenal. 

Knox"s |dan was to gn tn 'I'iconderoga while the snow 
and ice cimtinued to render streams passal>le and roads 
fe;isilde for sleds and sleighs. He thought Siooo might 
cii\fr the expenses of such a journey, Init the actual ex- 
penses were over .'s-'soo. ( leneral I'hilip Schuvler of Xew 
"S'ork was instructed b\ Washington tn render Knox e^"er\• 
j)ossible assistance. Knox reached .\lban\' December ist. 
The winter was se\'ere. the roads unbroken, and the snows 
deep. He reached Ticnndernga on the 5th of l^ccember and 
collecting the coveted ordnance, began his homeward jour- 
ney. His inventCMW slmws that he to(]k awav 8 brass mor- 
tars, '1 iron mortars, one hiAxitzer, 13 lirass cannon. 30 iron 
cannon, a liarrel of ibnts, and .a (piantit\' of lead. The 
hea\'iest artiller^- were lirass. 14 and 18 |)Ounds. He wrcjte 
Washington under date of December 17, detailing" the diffi- 
culties of the ex])edition, and says: 'T ha^•e had made 42 
exceeding strong sleds, and ha\'e provided 80 yoke of oxen 
to drag them as far as Springfield, wdiere I shall get fresh 
cattle to .carr\- them to camp. In lO or 17 days' time, ^ 
hope to l)e able to i>resent to your excellency, a noMe train 
of artiller\-." The route was o\-er the (ireen Mountains, 
through the hill comitr\' of Wwv l-'.ngland, liy roads that 
never l)ore a cannon .md liaxe nexer iKjrne cme since. ( )ne 
stormv night whilr (in liis w ,iy to TiconderoL;a. he slept on 



Walks 011,1 '/\ilk-s Ahout llisfnrir Boston. 



tlK' IjcH.r Ml a ni(l<: l<.- .aKm. Ills l.r.l lrH,n\ \\ as Majnr 
Andre, w Iim jiail Keen taken ]iri.s(iiiei- li\ ( .eneval Uieliard 
.Mdnti^dinery at St. Jnlm. and wIkj was , .n Ins \\a\ tn Lan- 
caster. I'ennsx hania. tn await an e\ehanL;e. As was well 
kiiMwn. Andre was a must genial and ii ini|>ani( malile man. 
and he .in.d Kn.'x talktd far int.) the ni-ht. 

In 177S. ( .eneral Knox ser\ed . m the trilninal. whirh sen- 
tenced Andre ti> the iL;ni Jininidus death (■!' .1 spy. It was a 
hard pMsiticm U<\- ,1 in.in wf jiis kind heart and suseeplilnlitx-, 
and especially reinemherniL; liis pleasant interxiew with 
Andre twn_\ears previims. ( )n |annar\ 5tli, Ixnox sent his 
wile a \ ery lively and entertaining; accunnt i>\ tilts wnnder- 
Inl and hisluric junrn'. \. There was ^reat rejuicinL; in the 
.Xmerican c.imp as Knox entered with his treasures and the 
Iie.nrls iif the patriuts were insi)ired with iVesh lio|)e and 
ciiuras.;e. .\fter the esacuation cil' I'.ostnii, W ashin^tdii. wild 
saw and greatly adniirc(l the enere) . al>ilit\- and palridtism 
ol' Kiidx, detailed him td lay dut Idrtiticatidns t'dr pcmits 
aldiii; the Cdast that had heeii nmlested and threatened li\ 
the enemy. Kiinx was chjst- li\ the side df \\ashin;;tdii m 
the d|)eratidns ardund .\e\v Nurk in .\iiL;iist, iJJ'i. It was 
his lialiit td crdss dver td the I.cjii^ Island slidre with Wash- 
ington every da\- to inspect and direct the lines of defences 
that were heiii!; thrown ii]) l)y the .Vmericaiis. lie drew up 
a plan for tlie increase and efticienc\- of the hodv of artil- 
lerists and he was placed at the head with the rank of Ihiu;- 
adier-deiieral, anil thenceforth in the hattles of d'reutdii, 
I'rincettjn, ( lerm.intcjw 11 aiul Mciiiniduth he ispecialK dis- 
tingiiishecl himself hy the Wdrk of his artilleiw . lie lielped 
td repair the eri'dr df l.ee and at ^'orktow•n his battery. ,ls 
iisnal. was most i^allantK serxeil. lie was meanwhile em- 
pldyed in \arious counsels and nei^otiatioiis nf the w.ii' cill- 
inn' for skill and judt^iiieiit and in ])lanninL; with ( ireeiie and 
riinton the defence of the Hudson, and in the counsels du 
the state df the .\rmy at \ alley h'dr-e. 

Kudx saw the weakness df the militia at the battle uf Loiiil;- 
Island, lie cdntiunalh ur.L;ed the necessit\- of trained men. 
df a standini; army, and ,L;a\ e i^odd reasons why it was nec- 
essar_\'. IJeiuL;- a \ery brave man he could not lironk CdW - 
ardice in a soldier. Knox and ( ireen supported W'asliin^tdu 
in his determination to abandon further defence of .W'w 
^■drk. .\t K'ip's l'.a>, three miles abd\ e Xew N'ork. Knox, 
while renidxiuL;' drdnance and stores. narrowd\- esca])ed caj)- 



.\o'' ll'dlks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

turc liy the I'.ritisli. Culonel Aamn Lkirr. with a force, was 
close at hand and .L;nided Knux and his force to the Bloom- 
ingdale road. 

Knox seized a boat, made liis \va}- np the East river to 
Harlem, where lie was recei\ ed witli great acchimatiijn by 
his brother ofTicers, wdio had given him up for Iiist. Wash- 
ington greeted him with an affectionate embrace. It was at 
tliis time that r\Irs. Alurray served the patriot cause well 
by entertaining and detaining General Howe and his pursu- 
ing troops at her hospitable mansion. Putnam was con- 
ducting the I'etreat of the American army, and -while Howe 
dallied over the refreshments furnished most liberally by 
^frs. Alurray. the .\niericans escaped an encounter with a 
greatly superior force. Thatcher says: "Ten minutes would 
have been sufficient for the British to have secured the road 
at this turn and entire!}- cut off General Putnam's retreat." 
Ever afterwards it was a common saying among the Conti- 
nental officers, "that Mrs. Murray saved this part of the 
Continental Army. Murray- Hill, New York, now ,^4lh 
.^treet, was named in honor of this noble, patriotic woman. 
The outlook of the American cause in the I'all of 1776, was 
a ^'ery serious one. E.ven Washington, wa^, at times, al- 
most discouraged, but Knox was of a hopeful and buoyant 
temperament, and. had. ,-i firm and resolute belief in the idti- 
mate triumph of the [latriot cau-^e. 

The victor}- at Trenton ins|>ired all hearts with fresh 
courage and here Kn.ox and Glnver worked haiul in h;mil 
like true heroes. The stentorian ,^-oice of Knox on the shore 
as he superintended the emliarkation of troops coukl Ik- 
heard far and near al)Ove all clamor. The dav folldwing 
that l)attle, Kno.x received his commission as Brigadier- 
General. It was well deserved bv that brave and skilful 
soldier. He was an active participant in the campaign 
through the Jerseys. When the arm\- was in ipiarters at 
Morristow-n, and enjii}ing for a while a season of rest, Knox 
was sent to Xew- England to oversee the casting of cannon, 
and the establishments of laboratories for manufacturing 
pciwder and other material. The w-orks today represented by 
the splendid I'tiited States .\rsenal at Springfield are the 
residt of his wise and well directed efforts. After the battle 
nf ^'orktl >\\ II, ("leneral Kudx was especiallv recommended 
b}- General A\'asliingti m ti> C'cmgress fur prcmotion. "The 
rc^nurces nf his tjeuius." >a\ s \\';ishin"t()n. "have suft'ered on 



U'alhs ami I'alks .\bout Historic Boston. :-.o7 

tliis and mam- nthcr intcrrslini;' occasions, the defect ^^i 
means. His distinguished talents and services equally im- 
portant and indefatigable, entitle him to the same mark of 
approbation of Congress, that they may be pleased to grant 
to the Chief Engineer" (meaning the French officer, Gen- 
eral Duportail, commanding the Corps of Engineers). In 
the closing oiK-rations of the war General Knox bore a con- 
spicuous part. In the '-ummer of 1782 and the following 




//'. 



rtnil fulhiic 11, Culonidl Days 



year he was m command of West Point, supporting Wash- 
ington, and on the evacuation of New York by the British, 
he came down with his troops from \\'est Point and en- 
tered, the city at their head. \\'hen Washington on the 4th 
of December took that memorable leave of his officers at 
Frances Tavern in New >'ork. Knox was the foremost who 
responded to the invitation to take his hand, and as they 
met, tears flowed down the cheeks of each, the Commander- 
in-Chief kissed his f.iithfnl friend, an example which was 
followed with the other officers. In 1785 Knox was aj)- 
])ointed Secretarv of A\'ar. which called forth the congratu- 
lations of ^^'ashinL;to^. W'lu-n the < l('i^•ernment was or'_;,in 



.^"■•^ Walks ami Talks .ibout Historic Boston. 

ixcil under the I'fderal C'nn^titulion, W ashiiiLitt.m, a■^ I'rc^i- 
driit. calk-d liim intu his (JahiiK't ti > ^till <H-cu|)y tlx- -aiiK- 
position. As a cabinet officer at the national capital, Knox 
and his wife held distin.s;uished ])ositions, tor both were 
Ljreat ta\-orites. Me was a brilliant conversationalist and 
always in g-Qod humor, and she was a lively and amiable so- 
ciety leader. He remained as Secretary of War until 1794, 
wlien he retired fr. im public life and t' n ik u]i hi^ residence 
in .Maine near Til' nn,-i^t< m. where he had an estate thirtv 
miles ->i|uare. In hi^ later \e,ir-- ( aneral Kno.x spent most 
iif liis time in llnston. .Maine at that time being under 
the same ^civernnient ,i'- Massachu^ett'', he tilled a seat in 
the Council Board <<{ the State, lie \\as active in i)ubHc 
affairs and was at "Ur time talked of for (ioxernor nf Massa- 
chusetts. His ,-icti\e and useful career was siiddenh' closed 
b_\- an accident. lie died at the aL;e of 3(1 at his Imnie in 
Thiimaston. from an intl.-immation caused b\' sw.alh iwinu;' 
the bi me 1 if a chicken. 

( )n the 22d of h'ebrtiary, ii)ii, the Massachusetts Sons of 
the .\merican Re\ohition fittini^'h- obser\'ed \\'ashington';5 
I'.irthday by placini; a tablet t<i his friend and fellow soldier. 
Major < ieiieral Tlenry Knox, near the site of his birthplace. 
The taldet was |)laced (m the Essex Street side of Hotel 
Kssex and was unveiled by Xathan Warren, Esq., President 
of the abi.Ae societ\", who was a l;i lod soldier in the Cixil 
War. that sa\ed the I'nion. 



'CCf)c Cfiacirs Ether ©ridge 

Tlic subject (if a l)ri(lL;r td cdiiiu'ct the nurth side of I'.os- 
tiin with tht- main laml wa-- a siihject \'>r ilisciissi< iii fi>r 



J 




'I In I ,, s/ /;,,./,,. .., ,.r.s ;/,, r/,,,,/. . /,■,,, , 

many loiii;- \ ear--, Imt it was n^t until tlu- year IJJO. tliat 
the citizens al a tuwn niretniL; thouL^lu .it expedient {'< hnild 
it. 

\\ lien. hi)\\ c\ er, lh''\ learned that the con^tructii m waiuld 
rci|nire a lari^e anicjunt nl' mdiu'x^ the prdject was ahan- 
dnned. 

The. matter was a.^ani a,L;itated in i/.v'^. ^nid a design was 
made and sid)mitted to the Selectmen and the peiiple to 
consider but this efTort failed to materialize, in all probability 
from the same reason as bcfdre. It was not until 178(1 that 
the bridge was finalh' bm'll and npcned to the public. It 

309 



.?io ll'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

was tlu- lii'st hridnc iliat stretched out from the shores (jf 
Boston and hi the residents of lloston. and of the neighbor- 
ing towns and village-; it was an e\-ent of great importance. 
It not onh' promoted qnicker transit between the metrop- 
olis an.d the outlying country, but it was continually add- 
ing to their prosperity. "The whole work was completed in 
thirteen months." AH emoluments arising from tolls were 
vested for forty year^ in the conipan\- that built it, the I'ro- 
prietors of the Charles River llridge. The ])icture of the 
bridge and the following descrijition was copied from the 
Massachusetts Magazine for 1789. "The exercises attend- 
ant were witnessed \>y upwards of 20,000 people. The cere- 
monies were ushereil in at daybreak by the discharge of 
thirteen cannon from Breed's Hill. Charlestown, and from 
Copp's THll. Bost<in, accrmipanied by the ringing of the 
bells of Christ Church. A long line of civic and military 
bodies, headed 1)\- the (lifterent branches of the legislature, 
started from the ( )ld State ITouse, as a salute was fired 
from the Castle. ( )n their arrival at the bridge, the proces- 
sion formed t\\r\ line-., between which the president of the 
bridge compan\-, Thiimas Russell, and the other individuals 
forming the company, passed on to the centre of the struc- 
ture and orders were given to fasten the draws, when the 
procession passed o\-cr. 



•JCSf CEJcfjangc Coffer l?otiGc 

One hundred years ago there stood on tlie corner of State, 
Congress and Devonshire Streets, the large and imposing 
buikUng de])icted im next page. I'dnipaied with mher hiiild- 
ings of its da}" it was certainly an immense structure, and 
considering the size of the town, we do not wonder that its 
projectors were driven into poverty. It cost $100,000 and at 
that time was the largest hotel in America. It contained a 
large dining room, 200 apartments, a splendid ball room, and 
a Masonic hall. Built in 1808 it was destroyed by fire 
November 3, 1818, It was in the busy part of the town and 
during the ten years of its existence it was a great gathering 
place for merchants and professional men. for social and busi- 
ness purposes. Many a project has been discussed and set- 
tled over its dining tables. In 1S12 the news of all naval 
engagements were registered here and it was on that account 
a resort for the "solid men of Boston." The writer of 
"Glimpses of Old Boston," published in the Boston I'ost, in 
his description of this building gives an interesting account 
of events which occurred there during the War of iSu. He 
says: "Two of the heroes of that war u])on the sea, in which 
Britannia did not rule the waves, were honored guests here. 
Captain Hull lived at the Coffee House when his ship, the 
redoubtable 'Constitution,' was in port. He had none of the 
egotism often engendered by success, and after the 'Consti- 
tution' escaped from the British fleet in 1812 he wrote in the 
registry 'Whatever merit may be due for the escape of the 
Constitution from the British fleet belongs to my first officer, 
Charles Morris, Esq.' '' After the memoralile victorv of the 
shi]) over the "Guerriere," Captain Dacres, the British Com- 
mander, was an unwilling guest at the Coffee Plouse, until he 
could make arrangements to get to England. In February 
1813. Commodore William Bainbridge, who had succeeded 
Hull as Commander of the "Constitution," brought his ship 
to Boston, after sinking the British shi]5 "Java," off the coast 
of Brazil. 

Bainbridge was a man of fine figure, verv erect and of nul- 



.U-' Walks ami Tulhs .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 

itary licarinj;, and was easily (lisccrnil)li,- as he walked with 
uiK'nxered head. < )tlier fanic.ius heroes marched with Itini in 
the ^hlU•t ])arade. Captain Rodgers. Commodore I hill. Brig- 
adier ( ieneral Welles and Colonel P.lake. "A band was play- 
ini^ un the balcony of the State lumk. L'nder the banners and 
streamers strung- across State Street the |irocession |)assed, 
while cheer after cheer from the citizens i^reeted the viirto- 
rions ( 'onimander. An ensign was snsiiended across State 




77,.- I<.,.ln 



'./;..■ //. 



Street friDn oji]Hi-,Ue houses, on which was w ruten : 'llnll, 
joiies. 1 )ecatur and llanilirid^e, famous names in the War 
of iSi_'.' The cheers for the two heroes, 1 lull and liain- 
bridi;e, were Ioul; and loud auil could be heard for many 
blocks. That exeuiui; I'.ainbrid^e was a ^iiest at the bederal 
Street Theatre. < <u the ci'rner of l-'ederal ,iuil Fr.ankliu .'Streets, 
the jilav f<jr the evening; beiui^ 'Macbeth.' and as the flistin- 
.t;ilished .s^uests entered, tlic) .irdse, ,ind ^a\e lliem a hearty 
welcome. His appearance so affected the \eteran actor, 
Cooper, who had tile ]irincipal part, that he forgot for the 
moment all his anibiti.Mis. which l.aiK' .Maclieth was stirrini;" 
in his breast, anil he threw his bonnet in the ,iir and joined 
lustily 111 the cheeriiiy." 



Walks ami Talks Jboiit hlistorir Boston. .?i.i 

( )ii tlu- tlurd uf .March :i i^rcal |uil)lic ilinner was Ljiwii 
r.aiiibridge and his officers, atlcmlcd h\ ( lovernor Gore. Har- 
rison Gray Otis, Israel 'iliDnnhlsc .iiid other notables of I'ns- 
ton. Commodore I'.ainliridt^e treated L'apt. Lambert of the 
"Ja\'a," with extreme and r.are cmirtesy. This British officer 
was severely wounded in the ti,i;ht ,and llainbridge had liim 
brought tn the "Constitution," and ]ilaced him in his own 
Cabin wdiere he could have the be^t of care. Before leaving 
his shi|) ISaiidjridge bniUL;lit the I'.ritish officer's sword which 
had lieen surrendered and rettn'iieil it with a little s])eech 
which shnwed the moral calibre uf the .\merican officer and 
must have deepb affected the gallant liritish commander. 

This great hotel was destroyed by tire a few years later and 
was replaced b\- a nnich more modest structure. This second 
Coffee House stood until 1X5,^ when this second building- was 
taken down and a business block erected in its place. 

Tn this comiection a little incident concerning Laptain I lull 
mav Ije interestin;.;. At the Authors' ( iinld Dnmer at Salem 
in lSi)4, the President related se\ eral incidents concerning 
Captain Hull, wlio coinm.anded tlic "( "onstitution" in iier 
famous fight. 

"Just before the war, the '( uierriers' was on our coast and 
Hull entertained the luiglish otiicers on lio.ard of his ves-el. 
lirobalilv at the Charlestown .\'a\ \ \'ard. I'hey fell to talking 
of what the\- wcmld do if there wfre w.ir. an<l Hull said he 
would lirinu; them all into some .\merican ])ort. 1 )acres 
of+ered to liet one biuidreil L;nine,is. Hull said no, but he 
would bet hiuK.a bat. When the 'i iuerriere' was taken and 
Dacres gave njijiis swonj on the (|uarti'r deck'. Hull returned 
it to him and safd "I'.ut 1 will thank you for my hat.'" 

"The double granite mansion winch formerlx stood on the 
cornt-r of I'.eacon and .Somersit Streets w;is built after the 
War of 1812 b\ I);i\iil lliukle\, a rich merchant, who 
bought the land in iSio of jcrenn.di Allen, lligli Sheriff of 
Suffolk Count>. .After .\lr. liinkK'\'s occupancx . for a few 
years 1)efore bis death in liS_'3, it l)ecame tlie home of I'.enja- 
niin W. CrowninshJeld. who dieil in 1S31. In 1852 the bouse 
became the home of the new]\ -formed Somerset Club, and 
was so used for _>< > years, when tlu- Club acipiired by pur- 
chase the mansion bouse .)f I )avid Sears on I'.eacoi-i Street. 
The luisterly bouse on r.e.-u-(jn Street was nccupied by I'.en- 
jamin W'iggin. merchant, whose ik-atli occin-red about the 
year l8_'3. In 1SJ5 the lious,' was s,,ld to lose])h I'e.-ibody 



.?i4 Walks ami folhs About Historic Boston. 

of Salciii, whose daughter had recently married John L. 
Gardner of Boston, and the Gardners resided in the house 
for al)out forty years. In 1872, the combined houses came 
into the possession of the Congregfational Society, which 
constructed stores on the first floor and used the upper part 
for society purposes. 

In 1904 the Hinkley Houses were taken down and a new 
building erected on the site. It is now a portion of the store 
of the Houghton &: Dutton Conipanx." 




rlw lliiil.-lr,, II, 



'Crf)f public cearnrn 

No city in tlic c<iuiitr\ (.an nIiuw a more charming or 
attractive spot than the beautiful I'ulilic Garden of Boston- 
A luindred years ago it was marsh lands and flats and for 
twenty years the territnry was occupied by five long rope- 
walks. The town granted the lands, rent free, to the rope- 
makers after the destruction uf their buildings in Pearl and 
Congress Streets by fire in 17<)4, for two reasons: to prevent 
the erection of buildings in a district they endangered and 
to help the crippled pmprietors. These five ropewalks were 
burned in i8ig and the ropemakers decided not to rebuild 
but to cut up the land into building lots, and sell it for 
dwelling and business ])urposes. as the land had greatly in- 
creased in value, owing to the opening of Charles Street in 
1804. The Mill Dam project of the IJoston and Roxbury 
Mill Corporation was then under wa\- and when that should 
be completed, the marshes and fiats wnuld be converted into 
dry land. The territory then commanded an unobstructed 
view of the Charles River and the opposite shores. The 
people saw that it was an ideal spot for a public garden 
and they strongly objected to the scheme of the rope- 
makers. As the)- insisted on their rights under their agree- 
ment with the town, the matter was left to referees, wlm 
decided in favor of the rope makers, I'.y the payment of 
$50,000 the city regained possession of the territory which 
the town had given away. But this did not stop the agita- 
tion, for buildings and residences on this land — it continued 
until 1839, when by vote of the city and an Act of the 
Legislature, this little spot of 24 acres was reserved as a 
public park, one of the lungs nf this great city. The city then 
began to beautifv the grounds, which work has gone steadily 
forward, and it is today what its name really indicates, a 
Public Garden, with daint\ tlower beds, plants, shrubbery, 
grass plots, stretches of closely-clipped lawns, and narrow 
winding gravel paths. In its midst is a pretty pond, ir- 
regularly laid out, and in the smnmer time this is bright 
with gailv canopied pleasure b^ats. .An iron bridge, with 
granite piers, and im|iosing design, s|)ans it, and the wind- 
ing walks alon,g its margin ; and the seats under the few 
lar.ge trees near its brink, are much sought on pleasant 
afternoons. There are several statues in the Garden. The 
equestrian statue of Washington, by Thomas Ball, stands 
near the .Arlington Street entrance, opposite Common- 

315 



.?!& Walks and Talks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 

wealth A\finK-- It is said t(j la' tlic lar,i;rst <.f its kind in 
AiiK-rica. Ilu' ni(i\rincnl fi ir its cmtiim lu-L;an in tlii' 
Sprini; uf iX^c,. '|du' first substantial c intrilmti' in to the 
fund was friiui tin- rccci|its of an nration li\ tJK' Ihrn. RnlxTt 
('. W'intlniip in Music Mall that \ car, and in \ci\cnil)cr fi ih 
lowin;;', a s;rcat fair t"V its hcnclit was held with .L;ratif\ inu;' 
success. All the w'lrk ni"in il was dune li\ Mas-achusctts 
artists and ainisans. The height nf the statue is jj Icct ami 
with the pedestal reaches j;S feet. 




•/■//. /•»(//( 



■ih „ 



The h'.ther .Mununieut was a .i^ift tu the cil\ in lSfiS liy 
'riinnias I.ee. It has an excellent lncati(in and i.s a line 
piece I 'I w ( .rk nf granite and red niarhle. .V niedallinn on 
the side represents a suri^enn uperatniL; upi in an injured 
]K-rs(in under the influence of ether. 

The ( harles Snnniei' Statue stands in the I'ulilic I iarden, 
near I'.ov Istou Street, f.iciuv I'.eacon Street. The figure is 



Jl'olks ami 'Idlk-s .Ihoiil Historic Ihistoii. .V7 

of bn.in/.c, ah'iiit lo ivvt in height, and niuuiitcd on a pnl- 
cstal of Uuincy i^ranitc. His attitude is firm and graceful 
and his left hand grasps a mil of manuscript. The funds for 
this statue, as in the case of the Edward Everett Statue, were 
raised by popular subscription' riie scul])tor who designed 
it was Thomas I'.all. It was unveiled in December, 1868. 




/;.,„ 



„; W.i.sl, „,ih 



riu- most recent addition to the statues in the gar<len is 
the i-;dward I-Aerett I iale Statue < m tlie Charles Street side. 
near the central entrance from that street. The statue stands 
facing the garden and is a faithful representation of the face 
and form of the man so familiar to two generations of 
llostonians, who was so lo\ed ;md adnnred for his hmnanity 
and l)roadmindedness. 



Pfliiorama of Public Garden, Boston, Mas; 




I'lihlir (liinlru. 




rnhli, Cnnlrii. 



Hioston ^cijoolsi 

The nicii wIki sctllo<l l'.()^t(l^, under juhii W'iiuhrup in I'l^o, 
were, fur llie most ]>art, of simnil learning, far sij^hleil \isioii, 
an<l iKilile spirit. Tliey were stern and austere in their re- 
li.-;iiius \iews, hut their sentiments regardini^ pohtieal prds- 
]K-rit\ were sound and healthy, and they laid deep the touiida- 
ticn for siicial and |iulilie ha]ipiness. 

The\- knew that lilierl\. ei\il and relis'.idus, for whieh the\- 




\hlshr i:,lilli!<h lliill, .■<cll'jnl 



had saeriliceil so niueh. eoul<l never lie maintained if the 
jiroplc were ignorant. (io\ernor W inlh.rop ni his journal in 
I •45. writes, "that dixers free sehools were erected." and it is 
(|c,:iintly obser\ed in the law establishing the.se schools, "that 
the stron.srhold of Satati consisted in the ignorance of the peo- 
]ile. and .all means should he (.■m|ilciyed to counfer.act the ould 



Walks and J'alks .Ihoiit tiisturic Boston. 3-'i 

dcludLT." 'I'lic I'urilan^ hc^an lu teach ihc chikln.-n almost at 
the iiionient of laiidins^. 'I'hc records show that on the 13111 
of April, 1635, a Free School was established, and from that 
hour to the present, the inhabitants of Moston ha\e cherished 
and fostered these invaluable institutions, so that the history 
of the Boston schools is. in a good degree, the history of the 
ptople themselves. It has been the aim and pride of each 
generation subsequent tn the founders, not to deface or mar 
the walls of our fathers' building, but to beautify, perfect and 
adorn them, extending their area, and elevating their towers 
of grandeur in all strength and fair proportion. 

Uur ancestors enforced upon the towns by penal enact- 
ni?nts, the obligation to support free public schools, and in- 
augurated a policy, which, in after years, induced their de- 
scendants to provide 1)\ law for the compulsory school attend- 
ance of all children. They were determined that tlie "onld 
deluder,"' should have no chance in Boston. In no direction 
does the generous public spirit of Bostonians, show so con- 
spicuously as in the support of their schools. This is attested 
in the vast sums expended for schoolhouses and apparatus 
ai^d the generous salaries paid to the teachers. Add to this 
the sacrifice of property for the g(iod of future generations, 
and it stands forth without a parallel in the world's history. 

T'hilemon Permont became schoolmaster in K135. in 1639 
Mr. Wheelwright joined him. The school was free, supported 
by subscription, according as each man felt disposed to .give. 
Daniel -\Iaude came to the office in i()40. Maude was a min- 
ister and on his remo\a! to Dover, \. IT., Benjamin Thomp- 
son came some years later, a very learned man and a poet. 
I",zekiel Chee\'er came next, ;ind is rgarded as the father of 
.\nierican Pedagogues, lie ele\ated the character uf Boston 
schools and it was conceded to be the principal school of the 
land. The first District Writing School was kept bv John 
Cole in 1684. 

In 1713 Captain Thomas Flutchinson built a schoolhouse at 
his own expense, which was known as the North Latin school. 
The same family built a schoolhouse in 17 18 in Love Lane. 
There was another Writing School on .Mason Street. There 
was but one school kept open during the Siege of Boston, and 
that was kept grauitously by Mr. Oliver Dupee. In November 
1776, all the schools resumed under the care of the Selectmen. 
The oldest volume of Town Records shows a subscription 
list for the support of schools, headed by Sir Henry Vane, 



.!-- Walks and Talks .Iboiif Historic Boston. 

wlio gave £io, as did also < ioveriior Winthroi), and Richard 
Ucllingham. In 1641 the town \oted to ajiply the rent monev 
from Deer Island to suii])ort public schools. For o\er two 
centuries Boston SchonK ha\c been supported from the i)ub- 
lic treasury. Previous to \jXt). boys, only, were taught in the 
]iul)]ic schools, of wbicii six were in existence at that time. 
TJie records show that the examination of the sch(](]ls b\- the 
Seelctmen was quite a ceremonious affair. There were present, 
besides the Selectmen, the ministers of the town, overseers 
of the poor, representatives to the Cieneral Court and leading 
citizens. The lulucational ( dnimittee gave a report of their 
examination, the number of pupils in each school and all "the 
]iu]iils in very good order." \o wonder the little fellows were 
slill and fixed to their seats, at seeing thirty pairs of knee 
buckles, breeches and long hose come parading into the school- 
house, all in a row. witJi their ruffles, wrist bands, cocked hats, 
powdered wigs, and sjiectacles, to say nothing of parsons" 
gowns and doctors' saddle bags. A^erily it must have Ijeen a 
rare sight to look at ! 

'Idle extent of instruction in those days was in the branches 
of Reading. Writing .-mil Arithmetic. In 17S1), tlie people of 
the town saw the necessity of improvement in the existing 
svstem and voted for instruction of both sexes. There should 
be one school where the rudiments of the Latin and Greek 
languages should be taught and there should be one Writing 
and one Reading School at the South, at the Centre and at 
the North parts of the town, where children of both sexes 
should be taught. The I'.oston Latin School is a venerable 
institution of learning. If we may judge from the language 
of our ancestors its origin seems to have been in hostility to 
his Satanic majestv in the Statute words, "it being one chief 
project of Satan to keep men from the knowledge of the 
Scriptures as in former tiiues, keeping them in unknown 
tongues, that so at last, the true source and meaning of the 
original might be clouded and corrujited with false glosses of 
deceivers.' 

As we ha\e said, the sciiool l)uilding was lirst located on 
School Street, in the rear of King's Chapel. I-ater, (T81J) it 
occupied a building on the site of the Parker House. In 1844 
a large brick scliool edifice was erected on Bedford Street, 
one-half being occupied by the Latin School and the other 
half bv the English High .School. The latter school was es- 
talilisbed in iSji. and was a ])rogressive step in po]iul,ir edu- 



Jl'alks and I'alhs .Ihuiil JJistoric Bosluii. J-'.t 

cation and its coni])lcte success not onl\- satisl'ied tlie most 
sanguine expectations of its friends and promoters, but also 
gave an impetus to a similar provision for the girls of the city. 
The Latin school has had some famous masters, and the Eng- 
lish High has also been especially faxored in having been un- 
der the guidance of verv excellent men and able instructors. 




-^^Sr"^ 


«^^^ 


?§;;?-5^^= 


77/r I 


'.»//» ,ni,l 


i;r,lf„nl FUrrr, 



.Among the teachers of Xew h'.ngiand, there was ncjne who 
stood higiier in his profession, or who was more trulv loved 
and honored than the late Thomas Sherwin. "He had a re- 
mjirkaljle completeness of character antl a well adjustment 
of all his ])Owers, which ga\e symmetry and Ijeanty to lii^ 
moral and intellectual nature ; combined with which he miiteil 
widely gathered knowled,ge, a thorough mastery of whatever 
subject he had investigated and the conscientious u>e of all he 
was and all he knew for the advantage of others. These traits 
with his unselfish disposition and genial s])irit. won for him 
universal regard, and made him a competent judge on every 
side, and f)ne of the leading characters of his time, — a wor- 
tliv model for the encouragement and emulation of pro,grcssive 



.i-'4 Jj'alks and Talks .-Ihoiit Historic Boston. 

minds." Under his guidance it was considered, that in thor- 
oughness the English High School of Boston ranked next to 
West Point. An English gentleman was appointed to visit the 
schools of this country and upon his return he made his report 
to Parliament. In it he said : "Taking for all in all and as ac- 
complishing the end at which it professes to aim, the English 
High School of I'.oston, struck me as the model school of the 







- Y J 




I'.milial, II Kill 



,-l,,„.l. Mn„hl„ 



United States. I wi^h \\ r had a hundred such in iMigland." 

Xo record of r.iistnii >cho(ils would be complete without an 
extended notice of the great and valuable services rendered 
1))' the Hon. Horace Alann, wdio did so much in making them 
the model schools of the country. \\'hile a resident of the 
(own of Dedham, be was elected a member "f the Legislature 
where he ser\'eil ten years, four years representing the town 
and six 3-ears as a member from Boston, whither be removed 
in 1833. A brilliant and thorough scholar, he saw that the 
time had arrived for an advance in the system of pulilic school 
instruction an<l be ach'ocated the establishment of a State 



Ji'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. ,^-5 

T'>oard of Education — which was organized in 1S37, with eii^ht 
members, Mr. Mann being a member and the first secretary. 
Here he worked with ,q;reat zeal and efficiency and it was prin- 
cipally through his influence and exertions that the wdiole pol- 
icy of the State in regard to public schools was revolutionized, 
which made Mr. ]\lann a conspicuous figure in the educational 
circles of two continents. He visited Europe and made an ex- 
haustive study of the popular educational systems there. In 
1852 he was nominated by the Free Soilers for Governor of 
Massachusetts and on the same day he was elected to the presi- 
dency of Antioch College, Yellow .Sjirings, Ohio. He accepted 
the presidency of the college and carried the institution 
through a scries of financial and other cHfficulties. 



^tic Srivat ctjtircf) 

One of the very first act> ni the Colunists upon their ar- 
rival in Xew England was the formation of a church. The 
Covenant signed by those early settlers of Boston, Julv 30th, 
1630, was the f. >inidatinn of the I'irst Church. 

We are told tiial the gmves were (iod's first temples, and 
these Cod-fearing men and wnmen held their first meetings 
during that first summer under the shade <if a great oak, lit- 
erally "in a hduse not ma<le with hands," 

The first meeting house was built in 1632 and had mud 
walls and a thatched ri ■< if, and stoijd on the corner of State 
and Devonshire Streets, where the lirazier Building now 
stands. It was a rude Imt substantial building. The first 
pastiir was the Rev. John Wilson, ^\ho lived near by on his 
farm, and he had fnr a colleague, the highlv esteemed Rev. 
John Cotton formerly the pastor of old St. Botolph's. Bos- 
ton. England. 

In 1631), the church had 1)ecome too small, and in 1640 a 
new edifice was erecteil on Cornhill ( ni iw Washington 
Street! where imw is located the Rugers lUiildiiig. opposite 
State Street. Since those early days, this First Church has 
had maii\ hjcations, but it has alwa\ s retained its original 
name. The ost of this second edifice was met by weekly 
clnu'ch Collections, which shows, that, even in those earlv 
days, tile people of I'.ostoii belie\ed in sn|iiiorting their 
church by voluntary contril)iuions, and not bv rates or taxa- 
tion bv law. 

This second meeting house was destroyed in the confla- 
gration of 171 J, the greatest of the eight great fires that 
Boston had then, ex])erienced, but was rebuilt. 

On .Market ."Street, nearly op])osite the front door of the 
church, stood the whipping-post ami the stocks, and we are 
told that the first jirisouer ]il,-iced in the stocks was the car- 
])enter, b-dward I'almer. who Inult them in l63(). The tow 11 
fathers were incensed at his exorbitatit bill for their con- 
struction, and they laid tlteir strong hands upon him, and lie 
fortlnvith spent an hour as a prisoner of his own creation. 



Il'tilhs ,111, i folks About Historic Boston. 



327 



and as a forhidcliny c.\anii)lc tu like grasping merchants with 
whom the early town may have been afflicted. In 1801 the 
stocks stood on State Street, near Change Avenne. We are 
told that during the fire which destroyed the church building 
some sailors who climbeil ti> the clun'ch cupola to try and 
save the bell, were cut off 1)\- the Hanies and perished. ,\ 
brick e<lifice on the same site replaced the wooden <jne. and 
in 1717, or thereabout^, a large clock was put cm the build- 
ing, which w,-i^ pi-oli,ibl\- the tli'^t time-kee|ier for ]iu1)lic use 




in Boston, if not in America. I'herc were some cpiaint old 
laws and customs in the I'urilan churches of those days. In 
1646 it was the custom of this First Church to fine absen- 
tees from church service three shillings each. In these moil- 
ern davs when the audience rooms of churches are made so 
comfortable in every way for the worshippers, we can 
scarcelv realize the hardships endin-ed by church goers of a 
hundred vears and more ago. The heating of an audience 
room in those days would have been considered an unneces- 
sary expense. The services were unusually long, the -ser- 
mons generallv an hour or more in delivery, and through it 



.>-!^ Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

all tlif pt'iiplc sat ami shivered. L'nder such a test of ciidur- 
ance small boys grew restless and their elders grew sleepy. 
An attendant was always present to look after such cases. 
He walked up and down the aisle during the services armed 
with a long pole, with a solid wooden ball at one end. 



ifei^m'-'>^' 



r%-M' """^ "^ "si^r^'^gTSM 




rh. IG.J 



W hen he caught >ighl of a sleeper, he adnnnislerctl a vigor- 
ous tap on the offender's heail. if a man, or boy. but in the 
case of a woman he had a pole in which was a fox's tail, and 
this he would di'aw across her face. Judge Sewall. in his 
diary, says, that "one ."Sunday at the Old South Church, the 
\vorship]X'rs were so cold that their coughing interfered with 
the sermon, and the Sacrament bread was frozen as hard as 
pebbles." In ]~2l the Second Church was built on llanii\er 



Walks mill Talks Aboiil llistaric Boston. ^■i9 

Street, and after that tlie First Lhurcli was i)()i)iilarly known 
as the "Old llrick." 

In 1760 there was another disastrous fire, and again the 
cliurch edifice was destroyed. The Town House (( )U1 State 
Plouse) was also burned and more tlian 30 buildinos. In 
1 761 another church edifice arose from the ashes. On 
]\[arch 3, 1770, the bell of the Old Brick Church gave warn- 
ing to the citizens of the Boston Massacre. In March, 1776. 
after the siege of Boston, General Washington with some of 
his troops attended ser\-ice at the First Church, and then 
adjourned to the Bunch of Grapes tavern on the corner of 
State and Kilby Streets, to refresh the body. 

The last service in this old church building wa.s held July 
7, 1808, and on the 21st of the same month they worshipped 
for the first time in their new meeting-house in Chauncey 
Place, now Chauncey Street, on the East side, about half 
way between Summer and Bedford Streets. That section 
was then a fine residential quarter. Here the solid men of 
the town lived, and between the years 1805 and 1850. there 
were a large number of churches in that section. There was 
the new South, on Church Green: Trinity Church on Sum- 
mer Street, corner of Hawley .Street : Federal Street Church, 
on the corner of F'ederal and P'ranklin Streets; The Holy 
Cross Cathedral on the corner of Franklin and Devonshire 
Streets: Rowe Street Baptist Church on the corner of Bed- 
ford and Rowe Streets: the Second Church on Bedford 
Street, between Chauncey and Washington Streets; the Mar- 
iner's Church at the foot of .Summer Street: the Essex Street 
Church on the corner of Rowe Street and Essex Street. 
Across \\'ashingtnn Street, was the \\'inter Street Church, 
Park Street Church and St. Paul's Church. Of that large 
number only Park Street and St. Paul's Churches remain in 
their original location. The onward march of business and 
the change in the residential district has driven them away. 

In 1868, the property on Chauncey Place \\as sold and a 
lot purchased on the corner of Berkeley and Marlborough 
Streets, on which the society erected a most beautiful stone 
structure costing $325,000, having a seating capacity of 
about 1,000 persons. The difference between the first house 
of worship built by Winthrop and his associates, with its 
mud walls and thatched roof, and the present magnificent 
edifice, marks, as well as any other illustration which can be 
given, tlie advance which 250 vears have brnught about. 



.vio It'alks mid Talks About Historic Boston. 

r.ut the most interesting memorial in that elegant archi- 
tectural church edifice is the original Church Covenant in- 
scribed on one of the stained glass windows: "Prosperity 
may bring change and progress in material things, but there 
is no mark of change in the expression oi Christian fellow- 
ship."' 

At X<i. -V State Street i> the following Talilet: 

OX THIS SIT!': STtHJD 

TlIK 1-lRST MKKTIXG HOUSE 

IX !h:)STOX 

1^32 — 1640 

Also ancither Talilet: 

Site of the I-'irst Meeting House in Boston — Built 
A. 1). 1632. Preachers: John Wilson. John Eliot. 
John Cotton. L'sed before 1640 for Towne Meet- 
ings, and for Sessions of the (ieneral L'ourt of the 
Colony. 




IIh- riisl Clniirh. l!>l(i 



Walks Jiui Toiks About Historic Boston. 



KING'S CHAPEL. 

This quaint old Church building stands on its original 
site on the corner oi Tremont and School Streets and was 
the first Episcopal Church in New England. It is now a 
Unitarian Church. The first edifice was of wood and was 
built in itSSy. and Robert Ratclitte was the first Rector. In 
i,~54 the present stone structure was erected. Its plain and 




simple architecture, although overshadowed by the larger 
and more imposing modem buildings, is still a fitting t\"pe 
of those sturdy, serinus minded men who built it. and of 
those, who. for generations, worshipped witihin its walls. 
In 1S04. the tower was blown down in a severe storm. 
In 187S. the Citv of Boston seriously considered the re- 
moval of Kings" Chapel, with the adjoining burial ground, 
and erectmg a new Court House on its site. "The interior 
of the Church, with the high old fashioned pillars, and 
stained glass windi>ws. is remarkably attractive." In Revo- 
lutionarv Davs. General \\'ashington. during his stay in 
Boston, worshipped in this church, and the pew he occu 



.?.!-• ll'alks ciiitl 'J\ilks About llistonc Boston. 

pied is pointed mU, with parduiuilile pride, to the visiting 
.stranger. The genial Autucrat ol the iireakfast Table, Dr. 
Oliver \\'endell I Idlim-s, was a regular attendant at this 
church and de\iitedly attached to its interests. On its 
200th Anniversary in j888 he contributed a poem which 
was full of historical reminiscences. There are some who 
remember liim in his later years, as he used to stand in 
his gallery pew fluring the singing of the h}-mns. Writing 
a loving- letter tu hi> friend, I'liillips Brooks, in 1888, he 
says of Kings' Chapel : "In that church I have worshipped 
fur half a centinw. There (Ui the fifteenth of Jinie 1840. I 
\\as married; from that church the dear companinn (if so 
many blessed years was burird. In her seat, 1 must sit. 
and thrnugh its door 1 hcipe Ut be carried to m\ last rest- 
ing place." 11 is la>t desire was respected, he was buried 
from that church. In his poem, '"The Rhymed Lesson," 
he makes the bells ui Kings' Chapel, Brattle Street, the 
Old South, Park .Street and the ( ild North on a Sunday 
morning, blend their tcnnes in one gospel of reverence, hu- 
manity and mutual toleration. Its insertion here, we deem 
appropriate : 

"The Chapel, last of sublinary things, 
Th.at >tir> our echoes with the name of Kings, 
\\ ho.sr bfll, just glistening from the font and forge, 
Kolled its proud requiem for the Second George, 
.S(jlemn and swelling, as of old it rang. 
Flings to the wind, its tleep sonorous clang: 
The steeple pile, that, mindful <:if the hour 
When Howe's artillery shook its half-built tower, 
\\'ears on its bosom, as a liride might do. 
The iron breastpin which the Rebels threw 
Wakes the sharp echoes with the quivering thrill 
( )f keen vibrations, tremulous and shrill, 
Aloft, suspended in the morning's fire 
Crash the vast cymbals from the Southern spire : 
The Giant, standing by the Elm-clad green 
llis white lance lifted o'er the silent scene, 
^\'hirling in air, his brazen goblet round. 
Swings from its brim, the swollen floods of soiuid. 
While sad with memories of the olden time. 
Throbs from its tower, the Northern minstrel's chime, 
l-'aint. single tones, that spell their ancient song, 
r.iit tear- still follow as thcv breathe along." 



Walks and Talks About Ilisturic Boston. .i.f.i 

The original l)t'll in the tower oi Ixings' Ciiapel \va> fruni 
the famous White Chapel l-'oundry, England, and was 
hung in 1772. This bell was cracked while being tolled for 
evening service May 8, 1S14. It was replaced by a hell 
cast in 1816 by Paid Revere at his fovnidry in Canton. It 
weighed 2437 pounds and was the heaviest bell cast at the 
Revere Foundry. The contract entered into with I'aul 
Revere was that he should take the old bell and allow 25 
cents a pound for its metal. He was to make the new bell 




W h, 



in all respects, size, shape, weight and tone as near as 
possible like the old bell. This he accomplished success- 
fully by using the old metal and adding a little of his own 
composition. His pay for the new bell completed \\as at 
the rate of 41 1-2 cents per pound. During his lite time, 
Paul Revere cast 398 bells, and the Kings' Chapel liell was 
his i6ist. 

This burying ground is the oldest in the city pro])er. 
According to accurate records, the first burial in this ceme- 
tery was on February 18. 1630. the year that Boston was 
founded by John \\'inthrop. For 30 vears it was the i>nl\- 
burial place of the town. 



,U4 Walks and Talks .Ibuut Historic Boston. 

Here (_ii ivernor W'inthnip, his snn, and grandson were 
Iniried : the two latter were Governors of Connecticut. 
Here also were buried (iox'ernor Shirley, who built the 
famous Colonial mansion in l\oxl)ur\ , Lady Andros, wife 
of Governor Andros, the Re\-. John Cotton, the famous di- 
vine, pastor of the First Church of Boston. John Daven- 
port, the founder of Xew Ihnen, Connecticut: John Oxen- 
hridee and Thdnins llridL;e, pastors of the First Church 




■l ^?8i****\;j,j,,. 



Tiiiill, nf -Inhll Mi II I In 



and main' nther well known per-uus of Colonial days in 
lioston, includiuL; Major 'I'linmas .Savage, of King Philip"s 
W'ar fame. In une of the tomb- were depi^sited the re- 
mains of the wife mI jdhn W in-ldw, who. as Mary Chil- 
ton, according to tradition, was the "fir-t woman to touch 
the shores of Ca]H- Cod." 



tlfir UnitrD feriUrs jSabp in tf)c LLUi o£ IS12 
On tljc Orran ani tfjc 2.aKrG 

The ^var uf i8ij Ijctwccn (ircat I'.ritain and the United 
States, was brought about l)_v tlic aggressions of British 
cruisers upon American commerce. For several years the 
continent of Europe had been engaged in the Napoleonic 
wars. The "man from Corsica" had laid Europe prostrate 
at his feet and had been consecrated "The High and 
Mighty Xapoleon. the I-'irst l-'.mperor of the French." 

England allied lu-rself with the Continental powers, in 
the attempt t<i cru^h Xapoleon, and her fleets had almost 
swept I'^rench cumnu-rce fri .m the ocean. There remained 
but one olislacle tu her becoming complete mistress of the 
Seas, "and that was the American merchant marine, which, 
taking advantage of the troublous times in Europe, had 
assumed considerable proportions. American ships, fly- 
ing a neutral flag, had free access to the ports of England 
and France, and other European ports and were doing a 
large and profitable carrying trade." 

British ship owners and naval oflicers looked on with 
envy, foreseeing a formidable rival, whose power must 
be crippled, and these represented to their Government, 
that the Americans, under the guise of neutralit}". were se- 
cretly aiding the French. 

The British Government at once revived an old law. 
known as the "rule of 173'!," concerning neutrals, and or- 
ders were secretly issued authorizing British cruisers to 
seize, and British .\dmiralty Courts to condemn, as prizes, 
Ameican vessels and their cargoes that might be captured 
bv British cruisers. "These depredations which were 
nothing, more or less than 'highway robberies " were 
often made under the most frivolous and absurd ))retexts, 
and thev aroused the most intense indignation throughout 
the I'nited States." 

Under such conditions commerce began to dwindle, and 
became scarcely more than a coastwise trade, for American 
vessels were subject to seizure bv both British and French 
cruisers, and the I'nited States had lui navy to protect its 
merchant ships. 



.i.l'l 



Walks and Talks About Ilistork 



Boston. 



"Tlie feeling- in America was intensified by the haughty 
assertion and r>tTen^ive practice of the British doctrine of 
the right of search for suspected deserters from the royal 
navy, and to carry such suspected persons away without 
hindrance. The right of search and seizure had been strenu- 
ously denied, and its policy condemned because American sea- 
men might be thus forced in the British Service under the 




false pretext that they were deserters. This had already hap- 
pened. It had been pruven after thorough investigation, that 
since the promulgation of the "rule of 1756," nearly three hun- 
dred seamen, a greater portion of them Americans, had been 
taken from vessels, and pressed into the British service." 
In 1S07, occurred the affair of the British man-of-war 
l.eo[jard, and the I'nited .'-states Frigate Chesapeake. — 
when a liroadside was tired into the latter vessel, and four 
men taken from her crew, une nf whom was hanged at 
Halifax. "In 1808, the l'.riti>h I'.irliament. \\itli an air i)f 



Ifalks anil lalks About llistonc Boston. M7 

yreat Cdiuk-sccnsiim, passed an act. permittin;; Anu-ricaii 
trade with l-'rancc. on cdnditicm lliat x'essels ciii^am'd in 
such trade, sli. >iil(i rn>t cmer s,,iiic ISritish \)OTt. pay a 
transit duty and take nut a licfusc." Matters continued to 
grow worse for fuur \ ears, until forbearance ceased tC) he- 
a \irtu.e. l''or America Ui hesitate and submit longer h' 
such treatment was rank cuwardice. President Madison 
sounded the War trumpi-t in his Annual Message, in Xo- 
vember, 1811. "The Ibmse nf Representatives, led by 
that brilliant speaker, llenr\ (lay. then only thirty-four 
years of age. iletermined that indecisirm should no longer 
mark the coiuicils ^f the X.-itiiMi." The Committee nu I'or- 
eign Relatiims, I'eter 1'.. I'drter, Chairman, submitted an 
energetic rep(jrt cm the _'i)th ..f Xovember, in which the 
British (.;o\ ei-nment was arraigned, on charges nf injus- 
tice, cruelty and wrong. The Report stated. "To sum up 
in a word, your Committee need only say. that the United 
States, as a soyereign and independent power, claims the 
right to use the ocean, which is the common and acknowl- 
edged highwa\- of Xatiiius. fur the purpose of transport- 
ing, in their own \esseK, the products of their own siiils, 
and the acquisitions uf their own industry, to a market in 
the ports of friendly nations, and to bring home in return 
such articles as their necessities or conyenience may re- 
<iuire. always regarding the rights of belligerents, as de- 
fined by the established law of nations." Great Britain in 
defiance of this incontestable right, captures every Amer- 
ican vessel, bound tci, or returning from a port, where her 
commerce is not fa\-oreil, enslaves uur seamen, and in spite 
of our remonstrances, perseveres in these aggressions. To 
Avrongs so daring in character, and disgraceful in their ex- 
ecution, it is impossible that the people of the United 
States should remain indifferent. We must never tamely 
and quietly submit, or we must resist by those means 
which God has placed within our reach. The sovereignty 
and independence of these .States, purchased and sanctified 
by the lilood of our fathers, from whom we received them, 
not for ourselves only, but as the inheritance of our pos- 
terity, are deliberately and systematically violated. And 
the period has arrived, when, in the opinion of your Com- 
mittee, it is the sacred duty of Congress, to call forth the 
patriotism and resources of the country. By the aid oi 
these and the blessing of (lod. we confidently trust, we 



3oS H'alks and Talks .-Ihoiit Historic Boston. 

shall \k- alik- to prncure that redress which has lieen 
sought lor, by justice, liy reniDiistrance anil l)\ i'cirhcarance 
in vain." 

( )n June lo, i8t2. President Madison issued a proclama- 
tion in which he formally declared war against Great 
Britain. The chief cause for declarini^- war was the im- 
pressment of American seamen ]>y the llritish. the l)lock- 
ade of French ports, without adei|uate force to sustain the 
act. the orders in Coiuicils. and the incitement of the sav- 
ai;es ti> hostilities. {^)n!:;ress immediately sustaincfl this 
declaration of War and a]ipro])riated $3,000,000 for the 
Xavy. There were luany military failures in the War of 
1S12, Init the little American Xa\\'. weak as compared 
with that cf ;he I'.ritish, won L;reat hunor for itself and the 
Nation. At that time the I'.ritish na\'al force on the 
American Station consisted of fi\-e ships of the line, nine- 
teen fri.L;ates. forty-one hri^s. and sixteen schooners, these 
scattered from Halifax to the Leeward I^l,ind>. "The 
Americans went lioldU- inU upon the ocean in Xaticmal and 
])ri^■atelv armed vessels, and won \icti)rv after victory. ' 
A\'hen war was declared a --mall s(|uadron of American 
Ships, under command of C/ommodore Rogers, consisting 
of three Irrigates, the "President," "Cotigress" and "I'nit- 
ed States,"' .-lud the sloo]) of war "Hornet," was crui--inL; 
off ."-^an.dv lloiik. lie sighted ;i P.riti--h --i|uadron. con\oy- 
ing a West India tleet of lucrcliautmen, to l-jigkind. In 
his flagship, the "President," he gave chase, and overtook 
the British off Xantucket Sh(.ial>. lie had a slight engage- 
ment whh the "Behidera ' and a chase of several hours, 
hut finally abandijned the pursuit. When the news was 
carried into Halifax, it caused considerable excitement, 
and a squadron of -war vessels under command of Captain 
Broke, was =ent out in pursuit of Rodgers and his frigate. 
I'.roke's frigate wa-- the "Shannon" of 3S guns. 

"The "Constitution," or "(!)ld Ironsides," as she became 
f.amiliarly known, was launched October 21. 1707. ."^-he 
was built in Boston, at Edmund Hart's shipyard — where 
is now Con--titntion Wharf. At fir^t she \vas considered 
an ill-fated ship, as two atteiii|its to laiuich her failed, but 
at the third attempt, she slid gracefully into the \vater. Tn 
those days she was the pride of the .\merican Xax-y. .^lu- 
was designed bv Joshua Tdumphreys cif T^hiladelphia. and 
constructeil under the supervision of Colonel Ceorge Clai;- 



Il-'alks and 'folks .Iboiit Historic Bustun. xvi 

home of Xl-w I'.cdfi.rd. She wa'- 173 fctt limy, ami car- 
ried a crew nf 4(K) nini. Slic cn^t $302,718.84. She was 
emphaticall}- a I'.dstnii sliip. A I'.dstoii shipwright chose 
the wood, an(.l J'aul Rc\crc, llu' Kcxokitionary patriot, fur- 
nished the copper holts and spikes, and Ephraim Thayer 
of the South End made the yun carriages. The sails were 
made in the ( )ld ( iranaiy. which stcjod on the site oi Park 
Street Churcli. llcr ani'lmrs were ni.ade in Hanover. .Mass. 
and the duck fur lu-i' sails \\;is manufactured In- a C(ini])anv 
whose factory stoud cm the corner of 'I'remont and r.(j\l- 
ston Streets. 

She left Annapolis on Jidy u. on a cruise to the north- 
ward. \\'lneu five da_\s out. >lu- fell in with I'.roke's scpiad- 
Ton, and then occurred one of the most remarkable n;i\al 
pursuits and escapes on rei'ord. The "Constitution" was 
r.ot strong enough to light the stpiadron with .any hope (if 
-winning, her only safety was in thght. At the time there 
was a dead calm, and her sails were flapping idK- in the 
breeze. Captain Hull was determined to escaiie his pur- 
suers and his seamanship was equal to the occasion. Her 
boats were lowered with sweeps, and manned bv sturdy 
seamen. A long 18 pounder was rigged as a stern chaser, 
and another of the same c.alihre was pointed off the fore- 
castle. The cabin windows were sawed, so as to admit of 
24 pounders being run out, and everything made readv in 
case she had to fi.ght. .\ gentle breeze sprang up and she 
was getting under headway wdien the '"Shannon" sent a 
shot, at long range, without effect. Then succeeded an- 
other calm, when sweeps were again used, and the good 
shi]) kept moving along in a way that puzzled her pur- 
suers. At last the r.ritish captain discovered the secret 
power that was mming the "Constitution" along, and 
out of his power, and he adopted the same tactics and be- 
gan to gain on the "Constitution." The "Guerriere" of 38 
guns. Captain I^acres. another of the T'.ritish Squadron, 
also joined in the chase. The pursuit was kept up all day 
and all night. 

The second day the ^vlioK- I'.ritish .Squadron was chas- 
ing the American frigate, bent on her capture. Every sail 
on the r.ritish ships w;is set. it was perfect cloud <jf can- 
vas, but the expert seamanship of Captain Hull, was con- 
stantly widening the space between the vessel*, .and it 
"^vas useless for the Hritish ^•essels to trv to reach her with 



■U" H'alks Olid Talks Abinit Historic Boston. 

a shot. In the afternoon she was four miles ahead of the 
"JU-K idera," the nearest vessel uf the S(|iiaclr()n. Tlien t(]l- 
lowed a terrific storm of wind, lightning and rain, but the 
gallant ship outrode the tempest, and at twiiiglit >he wa> 
still ahead of her pursuers, and hnundinL;- (i\-er the sea at 
the rate of eleven kn(lt^ an Imur. The r.riti>li tired twar 
guns at midnight, and ,it dawn they ga\e ujj the chase. 
The chase lasted '14 Ikhu-^, ,ind the country rang with 
praises of Captain Hull .ind of his gallant ship, the "Con- 
stitutiim." The "C'( m^titutii in" did not lung remain idle, 
."^he mailed fn mi ['.(■stun > ni tin- I2tli of August, and cruised 
eastward in search ni" r.riti->h \essels. C'ajitain Hull was 
especially an.xiou^ t^ meet the "i luerriere,"" whose com- 
mander had boastfulK- en joined the Americans to remem- 
ber that she w;is \\>>X the "Little I'.elt." He assembled his 
crew and t<ild them if they e\er met the "L"<.)nstitiUion," 
they woidd ha\'e ;in eas\- xictnry. Captain llidl sailed as 
far as the I'.a}- uf bundy, and then along the coast uf .Vuva 
.^Cdtia. where he captureil Miuie llritisli merch.-uu \essels 
on their way to the .'~>t, Lawrence ri\er. ( )n the igth of 
August, he had hi^ wish, for he fell in with the "(luer- 
riere.'" Each connnenced tirmg at long r.ange. but they 
gradually came clo>er to e.uh other for a fair yard arm 
and \ard arm fight. Ilidl walked the cpiarter deck w.atch- 
ing e\erv movement of his .intagonist \\ ith the keenest in- 
terest. Ilidl was ,1 fat m.an and wcjre \"ery tight white 
breeches. When the "Cuerriere" began to pour s|)i,t into 
the "Constitution," Lieutenant Morris, Hull's second in 
command, asked, "Shall 1 open fire?" The Commander 
re]>lied (|uietly, "Xot yet." As the shots began to tell 
serioush- on the "Constitution," the (|uestiou w;is re- 
peated. ".\ot \et." llidl (piietly answered. When the ves- 
sels were \er\- near each other, Hull, filled with intense 
excitement, bent himself twice to the deck and then shout- 
ed. ".Vow, l)Ovs, poiu' it info them I" The command was 
instantly obeyed. \\'hen the smoke of the first broadside 
cleared awa}', it was discovered that the Commander, in 
his energetic mo\ements. had s|)lit his breeches, from 
waistband to knee, but he did not stoj) to change them 
diu"ing the action. 

The vessels fought not Mix }ards apart, .ind the giuis 
of the "Constitution" were double shotted with round and 
gr.ape and did terril)le execution. In hfteen minutes the 



Walks and Talks .Iboiil llisturic Boston. .ui 

upper works of the "Guerriere" were almost shot to pieces, 
the niizzen mast gone, her rigging, ropes and sails wen- 
in shreds, and her hull bored in many places. Captain 
Hull, by a skilful mo\-ement, ran the bowsprit of the "C'l in- 
stitution" into tile larboard (piarter of the "Guerriere." 

The cal)in of the "Constitution" was set on fire, but 
was soon put out. While the guns were roaring with ter- 
rific noise. Captain Hull tried to board his antagonist, but 
there was a heavy sea on at the time and it was impossiible 
to pass from one \essel to the other. 

.\s the "Constitution" disengaged herself from the 
"Guerriere," the mainmast of the latter, shot through and 
through, fell into the sea, and the British Frigate, shat- 
tered and helpless, rolled like a log in the trough of the 
sea. "Her tiag, that had been flying on the stump of her 
mizzen mast was lowered, and Lieut. George C. Read (af- 
terward Commodore) was sent on board of her." "Captain 
Hull's compliments," said Read U' l.^acres, "and he wishes 
to knt)\\ if you lia\e struck ynur liag?" Captain Dacres. 
who was a jnlly tar. Iddking up and down coolly and dryly, 
said: "Well, I don't know, our mizzenmast is gone, and 
main mast is gone, .imL upon the whole, you mav sav we 
have struck our flag!" In her badly shattered conrlition it 
was impossible to s:i\e her. Iler peo|)le and effects were 
removed to the "Con^tilntion." The "(iueniere" was set 
on tire and soon blew n|i. A rhymer at the time, wrote: 

"Isaac dill so maul .ind rake her. 
That the decks of Captain Dacres 
W ere in ^uch an .iwful pickle, 
.\s if Heath with scythe and sickle. 
With his sling, or with his shaft. 
Had cut his har\est, fore and aft. 
Thus in thirty minutes ended. 
Mischief th.at could not be mended, 
Mast and vards and ship descended 
All to D.a'vid .Lines' l,,cker 
Such a ship, in such a jincker. 

The "Constitution" returned to lloston. carrying the 
news of her great \ictory. h w;i^ especially gratifying to 
the citizens of lloston. on account of her having been 
built here, for the\- h.ad ;i lo\e and reverence for the gal- 
lant old ship. There was a great shout of triumph .-ill 



.U-' Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

over the land, and Captain Hull was the hero of the hour. 
Boston gave him and his nfficers a grand han(|iu-t at the 
Exchange ColYee House, where plates were laid f(ir nver 
six hundred. New York sent him the freedom of the city in 
a gold hox. Philadelphia jiresented him with an elegant ])iece 
of plate. He was awarded a gold medal b\- Congress, who 
also appropriated $50,000 to he distributed as prize money 
among the officers and crew of the "Constituti<.in." 

W'iiile the victory of the "Constitution" caused great 
rejoicing in the United .States, it created great amazement 
in Great Britain. Tluy had considered themselves impreg- 
nable on the water, and they nnw had forebodings, not 
only as ti) the future (if the war, Imt also in regard to their 
supremacy on the water. It \\a> so regarded b\- the Lon- 
don Times, which said: "It is not niereh- that one English 
frigate, has been taken, but that it has been taken hx a 
new enemy, an enemy unaccustomed to such triumphs, and 
likely to be rendered insolent and confident by them." Af- 
ter the victory (i\er the "( iiu-rriere," t";iptaiu I lull retired 
from the couuuand of the "Coustitutiou." th.'it ^onu- broth- 
er officer might brne .-i chance to win renown with her. 

C.'Lptain William l';iiuliridge was appointed his success- 
(■r, and lie had a siii;dl Mpi;idron. consisting of the "Con- 
stitiuion," 44, "Essex" ;\2. and "Hornet." 18. Bainbridge. 
with the "Constitution" aufi the "Essex." sailed from Bos- 
ton, kite in Oct(jIier, for the coast of .South AnuTica. .and 
there, in I )ecemlier. met the "Hornet." which h.-id an l'",ng- 
lish .Sloo|) of War, the "I'.oune Citoyenne," lilockaded .at 
Baliia, Brazil, which was about to sail for iMigl.and with 
a \'er\- large amount of specie. The "Constitution" ke|)t 
on her course farther down the coast of Brazil, .ind on the 
2')th of December. ^^ miles froiu hand, fell in with the 
British Irrigate. "Ia\a," .v*^. one of the finest vessels in 
the l^iritish Xrny. The\- cleared decks and went into ac- 
tion at two o'clock in the afternoon, and fought between 
two and three hours. Both vessels manoeuvred for quite 
a while for advantage of position, the "Java." trying to run 
down the "Constitution." ;ind in so doing recei\ed much 
dnmage, without gaining ;iuy ;id\antage. As the "Java" 
turned, the "Constitution" poured a raking broadside into 
the stern of her enemy. Another broadside crashed with 
terrible effect through the "Ja\a," carr\ing a\\a\- her jil) 
boom and |iart of her bowsprit. Then the two \essel-~ I;iy 



! folks <ni,l l\,lks Ahoitt Historic Host,>ii. .!4.i 

l-'Foadsiik' t<i Iiri lacNidc in deadly runllict. The niiz/.eii- 
mast (if the "|a\a" went 1)\- the l)iiard and between five 
and six d'elnck. tiu- "ja\a" ceased t<i fire and her colurs 
were haulede duwn. Ilcr conunander Captaui Lambert, 
was nuirtally wonnded. ller crew consisted of 446 men 
and hoys and slie had more than one hundred passengers. 
Her people were all transferred to the "Constitution" with 
their baggagje. and the "la\a" was then set on fire and 
blew up on the yst of I)eceml)er. 

Hainliridge, after landino- and pariiling his prisoners, set 
sail for the I'nited States, where he was awarded the wel- 
come given to all naval heroes of those days, who did so 
much for the honor and glory of the country. "From New 
York and Albany he received tlj^e freedom of the City in a 
gold liox. Philadelphia presented him with an elegant 
service of plate; Congress voted him a Gold Medal, and 
.S50.000 as Prize Money for his oflicers and crew. This 
was the fourth brilliant victory over the British won by 
the American Navy in the space of five months. These 
achievements of the Xavy were the bright spots in that 
War. Again the press and people of England were raving- 
over the successive victories of tlie Americans on the 
water. One of the leading London journals gave vent to< 
its feelings in a most vulgar fashion, by "expressing" its 
apprehension that England might be stripped of her mari- 
time supremacy, by a piece of striped bunting, flying at 
the masthead of a few fir built frigates manned by a hand- 
ful of bastards and outlaws." Due allowance must be 
made for the haughty and arrogant Britons. It was a bit- 
ter pill for them to swallow, that any other nation in a 
fair fight and e\cnly matched, could whip them on the 
sea. In 1830 the "Constitutinn," then thirty-three years 
old. was Iving at Charlcstown Na\\- \';ucl. The I'nited 
States Navy Department, thinking her usefulness at 
an end, and taking no account of the sentiment that gath- 
ered around that famous hull, condemned hor to be broken 
up and her remains cnnsigned to the junk pile. Our Bos- 
ton poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes was then a student at 
Harvard, of barely legal voting age. 

He read the account of this proposed action and it fired 
his imagination and indignation, and he rapidly wrote 
with a pencil on a scrap of paper the stanzas now so fa- 
miliar to everv school bov, and sent them to a Boston 



.i44 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

newspaper, that published them. In a few days they had 
Ijeen reprinted in scores ul papers all over the land and a 
storm of protest was aroused against the destruction of 
the old frigate. The result was that the order was re- 
scinded and money appropriated for her repair and preser- 
vation. The young patriotic, poet-student became famous, 
and in later years became more admired and appreciated 
for his many gifts to American literature. The (ild frigate 
still floats and we hope may be viewed with patriotic pride 
by future generations : 

"Aye, tear her tattered Ensign down ! 

Long has it waved on high ! 
And man}' an eye has danced to see, 

That banner in the sky. 
Beneath it, rang the battle shout ! 

And burst the cannons' roar 
The meteor of the ocean air. 

Shall sweep the clouds no more ! 
Nail to the mast that holy flag, 

Set every threadbare sail, 
And give her to the God of Storms, 
The lightning and the gale! 

Holmes." 
While the Constitutii m was doing such grand work, other 
naval vessels were denn in>trating the seamanship, skill and 
fighting qualities of the American sailor, and his ability to 
cope with any foe on the ocean. 

On October i8, the American sloop of war "Wasp." Cap- 
tain Tones, captured the llritisli l)rig "I'Volic." after a sharp 
engagement <if forty-tive minutes, oft the coast of Xorth 
Carolina, 'liie slaughter (jh the "I'Volic" was terrific. Ninety 
were killed and wounded, while only ten were killed and 
disabled on the "\\'asp." I'.ut her victory was of short 
din-ation for that very afternoon the llritish 74-guii ship, the 
"Poicters," Captain lleresford. appeared, and two hours after 
the gallant Jones had gained his triumph, he was compelled 
to surrender his prize and liis own ship to another <if superior 
force, [ones was honored for his bravery by public enter- 
tainments and Congress gave hi ma gold medal. 

A week later the frigate "L'nited States." Captain Stephen 
Dec'itnr, of the squadron of Commodore Rodgers, while 
cruising otT the Canary Islands, gained a great naval victory 



Jl'alks mill Talks About Historic Boston. .i-15 

afti.T a tiglu of t\V(j hours. Ho captured thu Britisli frigate 
".Macedonian," 38 guns, Captain C'arden. After a long 
distance cannonade of half an iiour, they came into close 
contact and here the Americans displayed splendid guimery, 
for which, indeed, they have ever been noted. The mizzen 
mast of the "Macedonian" was first to go overboard, then 
the main \-ard was hanging in two pieces, her fore mast was 
tottering, and her main mast and bowsprit badly bruised, 
while the "L'nited States" was practically unhurt. The 
"Macedi inian" was so badly crippled that she was obliged to 
surrender. She received one hundred round of shot in her 
hull, and many l)etween wind and water. Captain Decatur 
rigged her as a barque, put a prize crew on board and with 
his own ship and Captain Cardcn, sailed for New York, 
reaching that port January i. 1S13, where she was welcomed 
as a Xew Year's gift. 

As one of the New "N'ork papers of that day said: "She 
comes with the compliments of the season from ( )ld 
Nejitune." Decatur received similar honors to those which 
had been bestowed on Hull and Bainbridge. 

Captain Porter made a memorable voyage on the "Essex."' 
Sailing southward he crossed the equator December 11, 1812, 
and the next day captured his first prize, the British packet 
ship "Norton," with $35,000 in specie on board. He sailed 
around Ca])e Horn into the Pacific ( )cean with the intention 
of capturing the English whalers there, and to live on the 
enemv. He seized twelve British whaleships, with an aggre- 
.gate of 302 men and 107 guns. 

In Valparaiso harbor he met with disaster. He had made 
a consort of one of his prize vessels and called her the 
"Essex, Jr.," and these two vessels were blockaded by two 
British men-of-war. 

Porter resolved to run the blockade. While seeking for 
shelter in a ba\'. Porter's vessel having been damaged in a 
gale, was attacked bv two British war vessels, the "Phebe" 
and the "Cherub,"' and a desperate and sanguinary battle 
folldwefl. Savs Lossing. "When at last the "Essex"' was a 
helpless wreck and on fire, and her magazine was tln-eatened. 
when everv officer, but one, was slain or disabled, when. >if 
the two hundred and twenty-five brave men who went into 
the figlit on Iioard of her. onl\ sexenty-five ef'fecti\i- ones re- 
mained Porter hauled down his flag. So ended the brilliant 
cruise of the "l^ssex." Her gall;iiit ci imiiianiler wrote to the 



34'J Walks and Talks About Ilisturic Boston. 

Secretary of War: '"We have been inifortiuiate, l)Ut not dis- 
graced." Porter was publicly liuimred as the "Herd of the 
Pacific." 

On the i8th of Pcbruary. 1S13. the U. S. Sloop of War 
"llornet," Coniniaiider James Lawrence, fell in with the 
British brig "Peacock," 18 guns, Captain Peake, off the 
mouth of the Denierapa river. After a sharp fight of fifteen 
minutes, the "Peacock" struck her colors and ran up a flag 
of distress. Before all the wounded could be taken from her 
she went to the bottom of the sea. Lawrence's exploit 
created a profoiunl ini|)ression. A Halifax newspaper said: 
"It wilt not do for our vessels to fight them single-handed. 
The .Xmeidcans are a dead nip." Great honors w'ere showered 
upon Lawrence, but that which he most highly prized, was 
a public letter of thanks given to him by the officers of the 
"Peacock" for his kind and generous treatment of them. 
Lawrence afterwards lost his life while in cimuu.and of the 
"Ciiesapeake," in ;in engagement with the "Shannon." off 
Boston Harbor, in which the Britisli were victorious. "As 
he left the deck he said: "Tell the men to fire faster and not 
give up the ship. I'ight her till she sinks." The words of 
the dying hero, "Don't gi\c up tlie ship," became a battle-' 
crv of the Americans. 

Coiumodore Kodgers bail a rein.irkable cruise in the 
"President." 44 gims. While off the Azores, he fell in with 
the British armeil schooner "Highflyer."' the tender to 
Admiral Warren's flagship. "San Domingo." "The High- 
flyer" was commamU-d by Lieuten;int Hutchinson, one of 
.\dmiral Cocklnirn's sulialterns. when that .\diuiral plun- 
dered and burned Havre de ( irace, the home of Rodgers. 
By a clever ruse, Rodgers got the "Highflyer" alongside of 
the "President" and captured her without firing a gun. 
Before leaving Boston he attained some British signal books 
and made use of them with good effect. Rodgers raised the 
British Ensign, sent <ine of his lieutenants on board the 
"Higliflyer." dressed in tlie British naval uniform, with an 
order to send his signal books on l)oard the "Sea Horse'' to 
be altered. Hutchinson obeyed, and Rodgers was put in 
possession of the whole correspondence of the British Navy. 
Lieut. Hutchinson soon after came on board and told 
Rodgers that the main object of the British Naval Chief was 
to capture or destroy the "President," which had spread 
alarm in British waters. "Sir." said Rodgers, "do mui know 



Il'alks and Talks About Historic Bnsti}ii. ,M7 

vvhat vessel you are on l^oard of?" "Why, yes. sir; His 
Majesty's Sliip "Sea Horse." "Then, sir," said Rodgers. 
"you labor under a mistake. You are on board the 
"President," and I am t'ommodore Rodgers. " At that mo- 
ment the band stinck up "^'ankee Doodle," the Ameriean 
Ensign was displayed, and uniforms were suddenly changed 
from red to blue. Rodgers carried his prize into Newport. 
He captured elevent merchant vessels and three hundred 
prisoners. He made .•inntiu'r cruise southward in 1S14, with 
varying fortunes. ( )n his return he dashed tln-ougli a 
I'.ritish bl(^ckading si|nadrnn off Sand\- Hook ;ind sailed into 
Xew N'ork harbor. 

I'^arly in June, 1X14, Uritish naval vessels received orders 
from Admiral Cockburn. "to destroy the seaport towns and 
devastate the country." In July, Sir Thomas Hardv sailed 
from Halifax with a considerable force for service on sea 
an<l land. A large portion of the coast of ]\Iainc passed 
under British rule. .\n att;ick on Boston was momentaril\- 
expected. The city was .-[Jmost defenceless. Its capture 
would have been a rich prize and would have had a great 
moral effect upon the enemy. The inhaliitants of all classes 
turned out with im|)lements i)f labor to build a fort on 
Noddles Island 1 1'.a>t lUiston). It was l)uilt on an elevation, 
on the crown of the present Webster Street, near Belmont 
Square, and a heavy battery \\;is pl;iced across the bay on 
the far famed Dorchester lleiglu>. When the British block- 
ading squadron learned of these preparations and the en- 
thusiasm of the peo])le. they decided not to attack Boston. 
The vandalism of Admiral Cockburn and ( ieneral Ross is a 
lilack and infamous page in Knglisli history. "Willingly."" 
said the London Statesman, "would we tln-ow a veil <if 
oblivion over our transactions at Washington. The Cos- 
sacks spared Paris ; we spared not the Capital of America." 
While the people of England loudly condemned the act, the 
British (iovernment cau.sed the Tower guns to be fired in 
honor of Ross' victory: and on his death a few weeks later, 
his government decreed him ,1 monument in Westminster 
Abbey. 

While the National vessels were winning victories, the 
privateers were making prizes in every direction. They 
swarmed on the sea in the summer and autumn of 1812. 
"Accounts of their expoits filled the newspapers and helped 
to swell the tide of jov throu<;hout the I'nion. It is esti- 



.U^^ Walks aiul Talks About Historic Boston. 

mated that diirint;- the \car iSu, more than fifty armed 
I'.iiti^li vessels ami t\\<i hundred and fifty merchantmen, with 
an ag-greg-ate eif more than three thousand .prisoners, and a 
vast amount of Imuty, were captured by the Americans." 

X'ot (inly \va^ the conllict raging on the ocean, but there was 
great activit\ and great victnries im the Lakes. Isaac 
( hauncex. nne < if America's best na\al officers, was busy on 
Lake i)ntariii in 1S13. With his fleet of war schooners, he 
C( 1-1 iperatecl with the lirave (leneral Pike in the capture of 
^"| irk. now Toronto. 

Later with Ccnnmoddre Perry and (General Winfield .Scott 
he assisted in the captiu'e nf h'ort George, and the Niagara 
frontier passed into the pi.issession of the Americans. 
Sackett"s Harlmr was the chief depot for the military and 
naval stores of the Americans on that frontier. When the 
I'.ritisli learned that the place was in a comparatively de- 
fenceless condition. b\- reason of the force sent to ca])ture 
York, a IJritish S(niadnin. nmler Sir James Yee. sailed from 
Kingston to capture .'^.-ulselt's Harbor. ( )n June 28. six 
liritish armed vessels .iiid forty batteaux appeared off 
Sackett's Harbor, Inuring o\rr a thousand land troops, the 
whole arnianent undtr ('onnnandrr Sir ( ieorge Prevost. 

The appearance of the American flotilla caused the 
I'li'iti^h naval officer to swerve from his puri)nse for a 
while, but percei\ing the real weakness of the enemy, he 
.igain turned the prows of his s(iuadron toward Sackett's 
ll.irbor. A hea\ \ gun from the American fort commenced 
tiling upon the liritish and at the same time a dense smoke 
ar. .--c in the rear of the American troops. The storehouses 
had been set on fire to prevent their falling into the hands 
of the l^.ritish, which ttu-ned the fortunes of the da\ in 
l"a\or of the .\mericans, for Sir (ieorge Prevost, saw the 
militia being rallied .and concluded they were reinforce- 
ment^, and he somided ,1 retreat. .Sackett's l^l arbor was 
ncxer afterward attacked ;ind coutinuefl to fie tlie chief 
l,.-i^js iif suiiplies f( ir the frontier for the remainder of tlu' 
\\'ar. The great batte on the f.akes was fought by Coni- 
moilore ^err^- on Laki k'.rie on the loth of September 1813. 

In .March. 181.^, l'err\- went to Prescpte Tsle (now Eric. 
Pa. I to hasten the construction of a little navy and four 
vessels were built there and at P.uffalo. five merchant ves- 
sels h.ad been fashioned into w.arriors. Early in July, tlii^ 
little fleet of nine vessel^ were all readv. Perrv named his 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. .U'l 

Haysliip tlic "Lawrence," in coniplinicnt tn the gallant 
ccininiaiider of the "Chesapeake," who gave his Hie to his 
country in that memorable fight with the "Shannon." 

But Perry had to wait several weeks for men and sup- 
plies, and chafed at this enforced idleness, while out on the 
lake, a British sc|uadron under cdmmand of Commodore 
Barclay, \\as cruising, awaiting the approach of the 
"Americans." i'erry was to co-operate with (ieneral Harri- 
son, who was in command of the American land forces, 
and on the 17th of August, while off Sandusky Ba}', he 
fired his signal gun. While waiting for General Harrison, 
to get his troops to move. Perry cruised about the lake. 
For a few days he was anchored in I'ut-in Bay. "The loth 
of September was a bright and lu-autiful morning; the 
watching sentinel on the main lop of the 'Pawrence' cried 
'Sail-Ho!' The 'Pawrence" at once signalled to the rest 
of the fleet: 'Enemy in sight! ( iet under way!' and the 
boatswain responded 'All hands up anchor Ahoy !' " Per- 
ry's nine vessels were the "Pawrence" 20 guns; "Xiagara," 
20; "Caledonia" 3; Schooners "Arid" 4, "Scorpion" J and 
two swivels, "Tigris"' i, "Porcu])ine" 1 and .Sloop "Trippe" 
I : in all 54 carriage guns and two swi\els. Barclay's fleet 
consisted of the "Detroit," "Queen Charlotte." "Pady Pur- 
cel," "Hunter." "Pittle Belt'' and "Chippewa" carrying 64 
carriage guns, 2 swivels and 4 howitzers. The fleets slow- 
ly approached each other and commenced firing at each 
other at long range, the first shot being fired bv the ".'-Scor- 
pion," commanded by young Champlin, then less than 
twenty-four years of age. .\s the fleets rajiidly aijproached 
each other, the battle wa.xed fiercer and fiercer. The "Paw- 
rence" l)ore the brunt of the battle with twice her force. 
her rigging was all shot away, her sails in shreds, her mast 
in splinters and her guns dismounted. Only one mast re- 
mained and from it proudly floated the "Stars and Stripes." 
All the other vessels were fighting gallantly, excepting the 
"Niagara," which had been lagging behind. Perrv deter- 
mined to fly to her, renew the fight and win a victory. So 
strong was his faith in his success, he put on the uniform 
of his rank, that he might properly receive the sword of 
Barclay. Then taking down his pennant and his banner 
with the stirring words, "Don't give up the ship," he en- 
tered a boat and started on his perilous voyage. 

Pie stood upright in the boat, with the pennant and ban 



Walks and Talks About Historic Bostun. 35> 

ner partially \vrap|)cd around him, a conspicuous mark fur 
the guns of the enemy. Jiarclay knew that if Perry should 
reach the staunch "Niagara," the British would be' in dan- 
ger, so he ordered all the big and little guns of his fleet to 
play upon the l)nat which carried the young hero. The 
oars were splintered, bullets traversed sides of the boat 
and the oarsmen were covered with spray from the round 
and grape shot falling in the water around them. 

^^'ith his pennant floating over the "Niagara," he dashed 
through the P.ritish line, and in eight minutes the P>ritish 
flagship hauled down her colors, and all but two of the 
fleet surrendered. These were pursued and brought back 
by the gallant young C'liamplin. lie fired the first gun in 
the conflict and the last one in securing the conquered ves- 
sels. It was a most complete victurw"' 

Perry sat down and wrote with his pencil on the back 
of a letter, this famous dispatch to General Harrison: "We 
have met the F.nemy and tlie\ are ours, ^'ours with great re- 
spect, ( ). II. Perry." The news of this victorv carried joy 
to the hearts of .\mericaiis. The lakes had echoed the tri- 
umphs of the ocean. The name of Perr\- in naval annals 
was made imnidrtal. The gnvernment in the na-ne of the 
people, thanked him, ;iiid ga\e him and Eliott, each a Gold 
Medal, and a Siher Aledal tn each man wdio took part in 
the battle. The .\merican loss was 27 killed, and ()f\ 
wounded. The Pritish lost 200 killed and bounded and 
600 made prisoners. Perry's humane cduduct toward the 
wounded Commander of the Pritish fleet was such that 
Barclay declared it was sufficient to immortalize hiiu." 

Another battle on the Lakes \v;is fought by Commodore 
^Tacdonough on Lake Champlain. The Pritish Xaval force 
under Commodore Downie, consisted of the Frigate Con- 
fidence, one brig two sloops and twelve gtmboats, and they 
came around Cumberland Head, with a fair wind, where 
they were to assist the land forces in a combined attack on 
the .Americans. Macdonough's flagship was the "S;irato- 
ga," and he had aPo, nuc brig, two sehdoners and ten gtm- 
boats or galleys. Al.acdi monuh. then thirt\^-one Acars of 
age, had skilfully |)repare(l his forces to meet the enemy. 
^^'hen his vessels were cleared fur actiim. he knelt tipot» 
the deck of the "Sarato^^a" "tiear (ine of her hea\iest guns, 
and with his chief officers around him. implored the aid of 
the Almighty. Then the sharp naval conflict began. .\t 



.?5- Walks iiiiii Talks .Ihoiit Historic Boston. 

the outset a shot from a British vessel demolished a hen 
coop on board the "Saratoga," when a young game cock, 
which the sailors had l:)rought from the shore, released 
from confinement and startled by the sound of the great 
guns, flew upon a gun slide, and flapping his wings, 
crowed lustily ;ind defiantly. 

The incident was regarded ]iv the sailors as ominuus df 
victory and their courage was strengthened. The battle 
lasted two hours and twenty minutes and was won bv the 
Americans. In his report of the fi.ght. Alacdonough wrote: 
"There was not a mast in either squadron that could stand 
to make a sail on." Our masts, yards, and sails were sr, 
shattered.'" wrnie a T'ritish Officer, "that one looked like 
Ml many bundles nf matches, and the other like so many 
bundles of rags." 'l"he fight was witnessed by hundreds 
of spectators on the \'ermont shore and is said tn have 
been a sublime ■'ight. The Piritish Commndorc. nownu-. 
\'as killed, lancl his n-m.-iiiis w rre buried at Platt-^buig. 
The loss I if the Americaus was 1 10; that of the i^ritish 
was (i\er twn hundred In his "History of the Naval Ex- 
pliiits of the War (if iSij," J. Fennimore Cooper, says: 

"The Xavy came out (-if the struggle with n vast in- 
crease in reputation. The brilliant style in which the ships 
had been carried into actinii. the steadiness and rapidity 
with which they handled, and the fatal accuracy of their 
fire, nil nearK every occasinn, jjroduced a new era in naval 
warfare. It i> not easy to say in which nation this unionised fur 
result created the most surprise. The ablest and wisest 
captain of the English fleet was ready to admit, that a new 
power was about to appear on the ncean and that it w;i^ 
not improbable that the liattle fur the mastery nf thv sea^ 
would have tn be fiiught ovei' again." The triumph of the 
American were themes for riratory. toast and song. The 
following ode tn "The American Tar" was very popular 
at the close of the war: 
"The Goddess of Freedom, borne down by oppression. 

In Europe's famed regions nc i longer found rest ; 
She wept at the heart-rending wide desolation. 

And languishing looked for relief frnm the West. 
She heard that Columbia was rearing a temple. 

^\'here she would be worshipped in peace and in war. 
( )ld \'e]itune confirmed it, cried. 'Here is a sample,' 

['resenting with pride 'An .American Tar.' " 



SDanicI aMrbStcc anli l^is l^omc in Boston 

Air. W i.-l)stcr's lirst i-t'sidcncc in Boston was at ~,/ Mt. 
\ '-Tnon Street and from there he removed to Somerset 
Street. That site is now covered by the Suffolk County 
Court House, Pemherton Square. The cut represents his 
last home in I'lostun. nn the cirner (if Summer and High 
Streets, as it looked in iS_>5. After Mr. Webster acr|uired 
national fame he snld hi^ residence in llostim and pur- 
chased a- country liimie in AIar>liticld and resided there 
until his death. When he sisited I'lnstun he stepped at 
either the Revere or Tremont Jlmise. 

Hostonians nf this generation and strangers \'isiting 
Boston, and walking dnwn Summer .Street to the ."^outh 
Terminal, cannot imagine that this busy mart of trade was 
once a quiet and aristi icratic residential rpiarter of the city. 
]\Tassi\e elm trees lined the street on either side, their 
long branches making a green arch overhead, affording a 
grateful shade in the hot summer days. The houses were 
of brick, large and stately and set well back from the side- 
walk, and nearly every estate had a beautiful garden. This 
house of Webster's gives a fair idea of the prevailing style 
of residence of that period. 

A writer in the Boston Post says: "Owners of the houses 
on Summer Street supplied their guests with cider made 
from apples grown in their gardens. Peaches and pears 
were grown in profusion and the pears of Samuel T. 
Gardner excelled any grown today." In this house (in 
Slimmer Street, Webster received the distinguished 
l->enchman, Mar(iuis He T.;ifayette, when he \-isited 
America in 1824-25, and \y]i() came to Boston to be present 
at the laying of the corner stone of Bunker Hill Monument, 
at the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the battle 
of Hunker Hill. It was feared that Lafayette would not 
be present on that occasion, and the'e was great delight 
in the hearts of the peoi)le when he ])resented himself at 
th". State House the day before the ce!ebrati(jn. He was 
met by the Governor, members of the [legislature ;ind City 

.35.3 



'■'■''^ ll'alks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

( )fticial•^, wild i;a\r liiiii a licartlrlt wi'Icdiik- and in replv 
t(i tlu-ir addrosL-s. said that ■■I'.unker Hill liad lirrn tht 
]irile star upon which his eyes had heen fixed." 

While ni r."--tMn, he was the -nrsl . .f Senator l.liiyd in 
I'l iiihertem S(|nare. The Chief Marshal that day nf the 
parade was ( leiieral l,\-nian, and at tin- head <>{ ihe proees- 




si'in were twn Inuidred uttieer-. and sdldiers of the Revolu- 
tion and flirty \ eterans who had taken part in the battle 
<if I'lind^er Hill. Snine nf thein wnre the same cartridge 
boxes they used i m that nieni:irable 17th nf June, and one 
old veteran eariied llu- ■-anie drum that he had beat in that 
tii;ht. Alayiir |i«siah Ijuincy wa-- -Master nf ( eremonies. 
ami he intnidueed the -iirxix. irs ,,f the battle tn l.afaxette. 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



355 



and 111 that s_\nipatlu-tic l'"rc'iKlinian it imi>t 1ki\c liccii a 
memorable occasidii. 1 1 is carriage was drawn li\- six white 
horses. It was a loni;- procession, for we are told that the 
head of tlie procession I'eached the nKmnnient hefure the 
rear had left the Coniinijn. A cane made fri nn (nie of tlie 
timbers that covered tlie nionnnicnt was ))resente(l td the 
Sfallant Frenchman, who. at the a.t^e of to, offered his services 
and risked his life to help the ('ninnies in their fiyht asiaiiist 




oppression. Lafayette laid the ci irneisti ine accdrdiny to 
Masonic ritual. He iiccii]iied a friml seat nn the ]ilatf()nii 
in the anipitheatre dH the ndrthe.ist side df the hill where 
the addresses were made; the sur\i\d|-s ,,f the battle were 
behind him. and he was the last sur\-i\ing- Major General 
of the Revolutionar\ Army. The pra\er was made by Dr. 
I )e\ter, who was in the battle, and I )ani(d Webster fol- 
lowed with one of his wonderful orations, in which he paid 
Lafayette the f( illdw in.L^- beautiful tribute: 'AVitli what 
measure of de\dtion will you not thank (.lod for the cir- 
cumstances df Adur e\tr,idrdinarv life! ^'dU :ire cunnected 



,i?'i Walks oini Taiks About Ifisfuric Boston. 

with both hemispheres and with two generations. Heaven 
saw fit to urdain that tiie electric ^park of liberty should be 
conducted through yim from the Xew World to the (_)ld. 
and we, who are no\\' here, in this (la\- of patriotism, have 
all of us long ago recei\ ed it in charge from our fathers to 
cherish your name and vour virtues. You see the outlines of 
the little re<loulit thrown up through the incredible diligence 
of Prescott, and defended tci the last extremity by his lion- 
hearted ^•alor and within which, the corner stone of our 
monument has now taken po>ition. \'ou see where War- 
ren fell and where I'arker. ( lardner, AlcClcary, AJoore and 
other sturdy jiatriots fell with him. Tho-e who sur\i\ed 
that day. and whose lives ha\e been prolonged to the pres- 
ent hour are nr)\v around \(iu. Heboid, they nciw stretch 
forth their feeble arms to embrace you. Behold they raise 
tleir trembling voices to in\oke the l)lessing of i iod on 
you, and \ours fore\er." 

.\l tile bancpiet immediatel\- following the .■idilre^>es, 
fyifayette propiised lii> well known toast. II is words 
were: "ISunker Hill, and that holy le^istance to opjires- 
sion, which has alread\ enfranchised the .\merican heni- 
is]ihere. The anni\ersar\ toast at the jubilee (if the next 
iialf century will be. to l-'.urope fi-eed." Daniel W eb-ter 
gave Lafa_\ette a grand reception at his .^ummer ."Street 
home. There were m) many united guests that a door 
was cut into the adjoining house of Israel Thorndike to 
■acconimodate them. '"The General also attended a Re- 
ception at the hciuse of Mr. R. C. Derby, and was there 
introduced to a lady with whom he had danced a minuet 
forty-seven vears before." There was an arch built across 
Washington Street with an inscriinion, the last two lines 
of wdiich were : 

"We bow not the neck, and we Ijend not the knee; 
I'ut our hearts, Lafayette, we surrender to thee." 

In Aledford he was the guest of ( "lovernor IJrooks, and 
an arch o\-er the meeting house in that town had on it 
t!;ese words: "(jeneral Lalayette. Welcome to cair llilN 
and iJrooks.'" 

^\''ebster had a fine garden in the rear of his .Summer 
."street home, and here we lo\'e to picture him, seated in a 
cdiiifortable chair in the summer twilii^ht, surrouiKled by 



iralks and Talks About Historic Boston. 337 

his family and neighbors in social conversation. I'rom 
his front windows he could look over to the New South 
Church on Church Green, corner of Summer and Bedford 
Streets. Fifty years later it was torn down to give jilace 
to a mercantile block. There are many old residents who 
remember the Summer Street of 1850 to i860, the old man- 
sions, the trees and the Hciwers. the square granite tower 
of Trinity, the Mariner's Church on the corner of Summer 
and Federal Streets, the site of the Brown Building, 1S5 
Summer Street. Not a single building now remains c in 
Summer Street of all those which Webster saw in his daily 
walks to and from his law office on Court Street. Onlv 
one building remains of tliose that were there in i860, and 
that is the one nocupied by the firm of C. F. Hovev & Co., 
which came unscathed tlimngh the terrible conflagration 
of 187J. 

.\iid W eb>ter, that man of cmnmanding presence and 
mighty intellect has passed nn and joined the great Army 
of the fmmortals. He had his jirayer answered and did 
not live to see the land he l(i\-ed "drenched in fraternal 
blood." There are still a few li\ing who saw Webster and 
heard him speak. 11 is massi\e frame, his deep set eyes 
and crag"g\- brow, .-utracted immediate attention and be- 
spoke at iince the greatness nf the man. His duty as one 
of the Commissioners of the Cnited States to settle the 
North Eastern boundary, called him to England, and he 
created a profound impression whenever and wherexer he 
appeared on the streets of LunddU. 

Sydney Smith exclaimed when he first saw \\ elister, 
"Good heavens, he is a small cathedral by himself." li 
was common to speak of him as the "God-like Daniel," so 
majestic and noble was his physique and intellect. Among 
.American orators and statesmen he stands without a peer. He 
stood in the highest rank as a Constitutional lawyer and won 
some great and notable cases. 

His next great effort, after the oration on Bunker Hill 
was his eulogy on Adams and Jefferson, which was pro- 
nounced in l-'aneuil Hall, at the ref|uest of the City of 
Boston. He said in jiart: "No two men now live, fellow 
citizens, perhaps it may Ije doubtetl whether any two men 
have ever lived in any age, who. more than these we now 
commemorate, have impressed upon mankind their own sen- 
timent^ in regard to politic- and government, infused their 



;i3^ Walks anil Talks About Historic Boston. 

i)\\n opinions more deeply into the opinions of others, or 
,^"iven ;i more lasting direction to the current of human 
thou.ght. Their work shall not perish with them. The tree 
which the}' assisted to plant will flourish, although they water 
and protect it no longer, for it has struck its roots deep, it 
has sent them to the very centre; no storm, but of storm to 
burst the orb, can overturn it; its l.iranches spread wide: the\ 
stretch their protecting arms hroatler and Ijniader, and its top 
is destined tii reach the heavens. Marljle ci'lumns nia\ . 
indeed, crumble into dust, time may erase all impress 
fr(]m the crumbling stone, liut tlieir fame remains, for with 
American liberty, it rose, and with American liberty, only, can 
it perish. Their bodies are buried in peace, but their names 
live evermore." This euliig\- contained the "suiiposed speech 
of John .\dams," so often declaimed in the public schools. 
I ieorge Ticknor. who beard W'elister's eulogy said:. "His 
bearing as he stood befcjre ih.it va'-t niultitufle was that of 
al)solute dignity and p(]\yer." 

fn 1 827 Webster was advance<l to the United States .Sen- 
ate. In 1830 he made his memorable reply to Senator Hayne 
of South Carolina, who affirmed the right of a State to nullif\ 
an .\ct of Congress, and Senator Hayne made a violent at- 
tack on Massachusetts, indulging in offensive personalities. 
This speech is considered as Webster's masterpiece and a de- 
fence of the Constituti<.in and the integrity of the Cnion. 
"It occupied four hours and was practically extemporaneous.' 
'Tt was Tuesday, January 26, 1830. a day to be hereafter for- 
ever memorable in .Senatorial annals, that the Senate resumed 
the consideratic)n cif Foote's Resolution. There was never be- 
fore, in the city an occasion of so much excitement. To wit- 
ness this great intellectual contest, multitudes of strangers 
bad. for two or three days previous. Ijeen rushing into the city, 
and the hotels overflowed. As early as nine of this morning, 
crowds ponred into the Capitol in hot haste; at twelve o'clock, 
the hour of meeting the Senate Chamber, its gallery, floor and 
even lobbies, were filled to their utmost capacity. Mr. Web- 
ster rose and addressed the Senate. His exordium is known 
liy heart everywhere. As he s[)oke every head was inclined 
closer towards him. every ear tr.rned in the direction of his 
voice, and that dee]i. sudden, mysterious silence followed, 
which alwa\s attends fullness of emotion, brom the se;i of 
upturned faces Ijefore him, the orator beheld his thoughts, re- 
llected .as from a mirror. .\h, who can ever forget, that was 



ll'alks nil, I I'alks .lluml llislunc Boston. ,i^0 

present to hear, llie trenienddus. the aw fill l)iirst of eli i(|iience 
with which the orator spoke of Massachusetts: "There she is, 
behold her and judsje for yourselves! There is her history; 
the world knows it bv heart. The Past, at least, is secure. 
There is Boston and Concord, and Lexington and Bunker 
Hill and there they will remain forever! The bones of her 
sons, fallen in the great struggle for independence, now lie 
mingled with the soil (jf every state, from New England to 
Georgia: and there tlie\ will lie forever." 

There was scarceh a ilr\ e\ e in the Senate : all hearts were 
overcome. ( lra\e itidges and mm grown old in dignitieil life 
turned aside their heads to conceal the evidences of their 
emotion. 

Webster was the son of a l\e\(ilutiunary soldier of the 
(iranitc State: he knew personally many of the \eteran'- 
of the War for Independence: he was their firm friend ami 
defender on all occasions. He stirred all hearts liy his 
fervid |)atriotisni. and the people felt frir him the same 
veneration as they did for the fathers of the Re|iublic. 
Whenever a da\- of trial came to the nation there was felt 
the --teadving control of his gigantic :irm." 

lames Russell Lowell tells a story of Webster which 
illustrates the power of his presence. "It was at a time 
in Alassachusetts when it was ])roiiosed to break up the 
Whig I'artw \\'el)ster came home to faneuil Hall to liro- 
tcst. and four thousand W liigs came out to meet him. lie 
lifted up his majestic presence before that sea of human 
faces, his brow charged with thunder, and said: "Gentle- 
men. T am a Whig: a Mass.-ichusetts \\'hig: a Revolntioii- 
arv Whig: a Constitutional Whig: a Faneuil Hall Whig: 
and if von break ii|i the \\ big party where am I to go? 
".\nd."' savs Lowell, "we all held our breath, thinking 
wdiere he could .go." "I'.ut." says Lowell, "if he b:id bei'ii 
five feet three, we should have s.aid. "Confound you, who 
do vou suppose cares where \ on go.^' 

Webster's two sons laid down their lives in the service 
of their country. Captain l",<lward Webster died in 1848 in 
the Mexican War. Colonel Idetcher Webster, commanding 
the I2th Massachusetts A'olunteers. was killed in the second 
battle of Bull Run, .\ugust .^o, 18(12. 

Webster cherished the hope of being nominated by the 
Whigs for the Presideiicv in i.'^.t-', but received only _^o 



360 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

votes in the Convention. JJeepIy disappointed he retired 
to his estate at Marshfield where he died October 24, 1852. 
His last words, "I still live," have assumed a symbolical 
importance. 

On the northwest corner of Summer and High Streets, 
there is a talilet bearing- tlii>- inscriptii)n 

The Home of 
DAXIEL WEBSTER. 




Eon. Rufua Choate 




/,'/,/»x Cln.al.-s II, 



(Etc Visit of llafai'fttf to 9merica m 1824=25 

Tlu- iiiiMc srr\-KT rciicKM-.-d 1,_\ llu- .\l;in|Ui- I )c L:ifa_vi.-tti- 
in tile WAV dl" I ndi'piMKlriuH', iilaccil mir natinn under an 
c\aTla>tnii; dcKi nl --ratitucK- t" tlial U'lMe l-'rcnchnian. — 
"'riu- stiiry of tlu- wmn^s ni AnuTica, and the strn^j;dc nf 
tl".- ciildnists t'lir tludr riL^lit'-, inflamed hi^ \ i aniL;' heart with 
a"dent sympathy and a passionate <lesiie tn h(.d]j them." 
At the ai^e dI' nineteen, he had married the danL;hter i.if the 
iJnke de Xnailles, a l)eantil'nl, ace"m]di>h(.d, and rich 
maiden. I le upenU e--])('Uscd the eanst- i,i tlie enliini-.t> and 
resoU'ed tn hapten ti i their sujipDrt. OtierinL;' his services 
tn the American I i immissii niers in I'aris. he said: "llither- 
tii I have I inly cherished Mini' cause; now I am gning to 
s'.'])p(irt it." 'Idle \iamL; <pieen, Marie Antiiinette, cheered 
him with liei- ;.4ii(i(l wishes. Kin^; Lunis e.\])ressed his dis- 
apiin iliatii m. l"(ir he hated repnldicans. Lafayette's xonnL;" 
\' I fe hade him l.;ci. fur the s\ nipatliies nl her heart were in 
m.isdii with his. lie saiU'd fur .\merica in a ship htted 'Uit 
at his ,,wn expense, accompanied li\ ele\ en h'rench and 
l''ilisli iif'ticers, wdid s(iui.;ht c-mph i\inent in the American 
army. .VmrniL; these was tlu- I'.arcn l)eKall) and („'i nmt 
I'nlaski. l-^nsciiiskd had jiiined the patrints a vear prexinns 
and was hi^liK esteeine<l as an I'.ngineer. Lafax'ette and 
his friends arri\ed at < Icdri^eti iw n. South Carolina, whence 
they priiceeded i)\erland t' i 1 'hiladelphia. He offered his 
ser\ ices td C'l iiii^ress as a Mijnnteer, in any capiacity, and 
withiitU pa\ . These terms were so different fr'un the ntlier 
fiirei^n dfhcers. that (.'dii^resx accepted them, aiul mi the 
last d;i\- iif Inly, cc iiiiniissiiineil him a .Majnr ( ieneral in the 
(■diilineiital Army. .\s sncli he was introduced tn W ashiiiu;- 
tdn .'It a dimi(-r part\' m I 'hilailel|iliia, when the latter "in- 
\ii:eil the Mimii; i^eiieral t^ Ih-cihiu- ,i memher nf his militarv 
family, which Lafax'etti- accepteil." The }-ouny and gallant 
l-'reiicliman cherished a dee]i and ardent affection Inr W'asli- 
inL;tiiii, wild, in turn, ld\ ed Inm and treated him as a Sdii. 
In 1771) l,afa\ette \ i^iteil hrance, where he ])erldrmeil 
niii-t im]idil,'iiit sei-\ ices fdr the Ami-rican cause, hy indue- 



Walks <ind liilks .Ihniif Uistorif Boston. 



3(13 



int.' King Louis tn (irdcr a i''rt'nch Army Id America. nndiT 
tlie command of L'<iiml Iv iclianihcau, to assist the republi- 
cans in their struggh'. lie liad been received in l''rance <<n 




Tin I/,// 



/(-■ l.iii Ill/ill,' 



his return home. earl\ in the \ ear. with intense enthusiasm, 
for his tame as a sMl(her was universally known. His per- 
sonal magnetism wa^ w ( mderful. Whenever he appeared 
on the streets crowds followed him. W hen his name was 



••■''^ Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

iiifiitioned in the tlu-atrrs, it was i^rected with wildest rip- 
p'ause. His |>ei"suasiiins at court were irresistiljle. 

' )ld Count AFaureiias, who was at the liead of the French 
Ministry, said: "It is fortunate for the King- that I.afayette 
did not take it intn his head t>i stri]) Versailles of its furni- 
ture, to send to his dear America, as his majesty would 
have been unal)le tn refuse it." The qallant service of that 
other Frenchman, Count Ri >chanil>eau. at Yorktown, the 
clcsino- battle of the RcM'lutidu. can never he furijotten. 

To accomplish that victory, the IT-ench provided thirty- 
seven ships of the line, ami seven thousand men. 

The visit of Lafayette td the land he helped Vi redeem, 
w.is line of the most im|iortant national e\'ents in the nine- 
teenth century. Lafayette, at this time, was sixty-seven 
\'-'ars of age and travelled nearly five thousand miles, in 
urder to lav the cornerstone of Hunker Hill Monument, im 
the occasion nf the Fiftieth .\nni\ersary of the battle of 
r.unker Hill. Cnngress. bv a pul>lic act. had invited him 
to lie the nation's guest. On the T5th of August. 1824. he 
arrived in New York. The great heart of the countr\ . that 
lii.;ged for his presence, was thrilled when the announce- 
ment was made known. \Vherever the post coaches, in 
their slow circuits, carried the news, the people came to- 
gether, and rang out their welcome to the companion of 
^^''ashington. It recalled tn their memories, souvenirs 1 .f 
sevcnt\-si.x. .and crippled men through twenty-four States, 
going abnul mi wmiden legs or crutclu-s, felt the tears rush 
unbidden to their e>es. at the mention of Lafayette's name. 
His ciiml)anions in battle were scattered all over the bosr.m 
of the I\e|nii>lic. ;ind when boys and .girls and young men. 
\\ho did not remember him — although they had read of 
what he had ilmie. — saw these scarred relics of the great 
.\rm\' of Tndependeiice, tliep caught the tire, and i* lilar^ed 
from the Atlantic to the last \er,-e of our homes on tlie 
\\ c'-trni frontier. 

TIT!-: RFCFrTIOX 

He stood m the City I lall in .\ew >ork, and all who could 
Come, pressed fmni all iniarter> to do him re\ ereiice. The 
gieat cities sent their deleg.ales in ha^te, and a sight was 
\\itn(sscd in that Hall, such a> was ne\er before seen in 
the history of nations. All the p,i-~sage ways were thronged. 



Il'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. ,i'i5 

and wIk-ii T.afaycttc aiipracd on the lialcon). In- Uiokcd 
U]ion an ocean nf faces, and into c-ycs dimmed with tea.ls 
of lo\-e. [)ride and sympathy. 

HIS 'i"kiiM I'll \i. i'U( )(.Ki':ss. 

In a few da\s tlie Ljnest ..|" the nation left Xew ^^ >rk on 
a tonr thmn-h the connti_\. lie went to Coiinecticnl, 
Rhode Island, Boston, and as far east as Portsmouth, Xew 
Hampshire, and everywhere the ^reat masses of the people, 
came fortli to t;reet him, while from forts and arsenals, 
great guns tlunidered the -lad -aliite, which was due to his 
siijireme rank in the American arm)'. ( 'n his return to 
Xew York, the cit\- .L;a\ e him a ^rand fete at Castle I iarden. 
\\ here\er he went, his inurnev was one grand triumphal 
march, lie returned to Washington. Congress was in ses- 
si'.n and \i.ted him a sum uf money, $200,000, and a town- 
ship of laml. which he incated in h'lorida. He went on to 
North Canilin.i, South I'amlina, .Mississippi, and Louisi- 
ana, lie came hack through Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania 
and Xe\\- \i<v\<, and thence to ISoston, where he arrived in 
time tn participate in the imposing ceremonies of laying 
t!ie cornerstone nf I'.uuker Mill .Monument. Lafayette was 
careful to rememher all his nld friends. 

'"Colonel Xeville was Lafayette's aid when he served in our 
army; and when Lafayette sent to France for arms and 
equijiments, Xeville, who was then a rich \'irginia planter, 
raised money and ^ent for the e(|iiipment of a whole regi- 
ment. He was on very friendly terms with Lafayette, who 
knew his wife and family. On his visit to America he in- 
(|uired them out, and visited them in Cincinnati. He asked 
Mrs. X'eville if her hushand had been reimbursed for his 
outlays. She told him n<i. ami that there was still ,1 nmrt- 
^age of many thousand dollars on their property. After La- 
fayette had left Cincinnati, she found all her mortgages had 
been paid off, but he never spoke of it or alluded to it. The 
widow's property, however, was clear and unencumbered." 

'AX'hen he was in his carria.ge on the day of the i)arade in 
honcir of the laying of the cornerstone of the monument, 
he asked one of the gentlemen in the carriage with him 
where ]\Irs. Hancock was, and ascertained that s'lc was re- 
siding in a not particularly fashionable quarter, she having 
moved from her home on I'.eacon Hill after the death of 



:■,(<'< ll'alks and Talks About llisloric Boston. 

( ii i\ n-iicir ilaiiciick. Slu- was at the time nf I,afa\ etti-'- 
\i,sit, Mrs. Sccitt. haviiiL; married attain. Lafayette wa^ in- 
fiirmed, that she -wdiihl iirnliahK- witness the jiarade, frnm 
the windoAv of a house on 'I'remoiit Street, opposite tlic 
Common, the home of a friend. He be.gged they would he 
on the lookout for her and let him know if she was there, 
and if so, stop the carriage at that point. The surmise 
proved to be correct, and Mrs. Scott was there watching- 
for the approach of Lafayette, and she was pointed out to 
him. Motioning- the driver to stop, he rose from his 
seat. renio\-ed his cha|:)eau, and placing his hand on his 
heart, made a profound bow, afterwards kissing his hand to 
her. She was delighted and thought it wonderful that he 
should have recognized her, and bursting into tears, said, 
"T ha\e lived lung enou.gh." 

.\n<itlier pleasing ii-icident of that same parade, is told. 
His carriage stopped in front of the site of the Old Liberty 
Tree, "U the corner of Wshington and Essex Streets. A 
yomig girl, w itli a red, white and blue sash across her shoul- 
ders, came dnwn the ste|)s of the Lafayette Hotel, opposite, 
bearing on a siher s;iher. t\\-" gdhlets and a bottle of old 
wme from I-"rance. Lafayette drank the w'ine she gave him, 
w'.th great gallantr\-. Later, in s]K'aking of the Liberty 
Tree, lie said, "The wurld shimlil iiexer forget where once 
St 1 the Libert v Tree, Sd f.-minus in ynur annals." 

I >n his retuin t<i \\ ashingii 'ii, mie of his last acts was to 
bend his steps to ]\Iount X'erncjii, where he gave the tribute 
01 his tears tn the Man (if all a.ges. In Lossing's Home of 
Washington, we have a vcr\- touching account of this visit 
of the General ti i Mnuiit Aernnii, the home of his dear 
friend. " l'~( ir mi ire than 25 \-ears, the mi.irtal remains of 
th:it friend had been Iviiig in the tmnli, yet the memory of 
his lii\-e was as fresh in tlie heart of the Marcpiis, as when 
I in .\'i i\ ember, 17S4, the\ parteil, to see each other no more 
nn e;irtli. (Mi this iicc:i^iiiii Lafayette was presented with 
a niii-'t ti niching ineniiirial "i the man he delighted to call 
father. The adopted son of that father, the late Mr. Custis, 
with inanv others, accompanied the iMarquis to the tomb 
(if Washington, where the tears of the venerable French- 
man flowed freely. While standing there, Mr, Custis, after 
appropriate remarks, presented to Lafayette, a massive 
gdld ring containing a lock cif Washington's hair. It ^^■as a 
111(1-^1 L;i-atefnl gift, and tln'se who were ]-)resent, have spoken 



H'cilLw ami Talks About Ilistunc lUisttni. .^''7 

of thf (iccurri-ncf as due of the most interesting;- and toucli- 
inp; the\ had e\er experienced, Lafayette was so o\erciinie 
bv the reception which the Cnniiress of the I'nited States 
extended tn liim, hv ])ul)lic enactment, as well as h\ volun- 
tarv adoration, that he conld no longer sustain the pressure 
on his heart and feelings. On the day of liis 

DEPARTURE EROAI AMERICA 

"The authorities of ^^^ashing■ton, Georgetuwn ;ind Alex- 
andria, the ]M"incii)al officers of the National (^ii\ernment. 
civil, military and na^•al, members of Congress and many 
distinguished strangers, assembled at the White Ibjuse, 
the President's Home, to take their final leave of the illns- 
tricius guest." lie entered the spacious reception room, in 
silence, leaning on the arm of the Marshal of the District, 
and on the arm of one of the sons of the President. The 
President of the United States. John Ouincy Adams, ad- 
vanced with simple and cciurtlv dignity to meet Lafayette, 
and with deep enmiion addressed him. It was a most elo- 
quent and touching oration, wnrthy of the occasion, and of 
all who were participants. Anmng nther things iNIr. Adams 
said: "The ship is n^w |)repared fcr \(iur reception and 
equipped for sea. h'rom the innment ..f lu-r departure, the 
prayers of millions will ascend ht hea\ t-n, that her ])assage 
n\iy he prosperous, and the return id the I" >>( lui of \-our 
f;[niily. as propitious to \dtn' happiness, as this \isit to the 
si'ene of your youthful glor\ ha^ lieen to that of the Ameri- 
can ]ieo|)lc. ( io. then, oiir l)elo\ed friend, return to ihe 
land of ])rilliant genius, df Ljriierous sentiment, of heroic 
valor, to th;U l)eaiitifiil Prance, the nursing mother of the 
Twelfth Loiii>. and tlie hourth llenry, to the native soil of 
liayard and ('oligni, and rureiiiu'. and Caler.at. and D'Agii- 
esseau. In that ilhistri(ius list of names which she claims, 
as of her children, .and, with honest pride, holds up to the 
admii'ation of otlier n.atioiis. the name of I^afayette has al- 
ready, for Centuries, been enrolle<l. N'ou are our> ]i\ that 
iin>haken sentiment of gratitude for ^dllr sei\ ices, which is 
a jirecious portion of our inheritance. ( )urs. b\- that tie of 
love, stronger than death, which ha^ linked \our name, for 
th.e endless ages of time, with the n,-ime of Washington. 
Speaking in the ii.ime of the wlioU' peo|de of the L'nitefl 
States, and :it loss, only for language to give utterance to 
that feelim; of attai-hnient with which the heart of the na- 



.!<'S ll'alks and Talks Ahoiil Hist<n-ii- Boston. 

ti'iii l)rat>, as the lu'art ni i>nr man, I l)i(l \ i m a rrluctant 
and affcctii iiiatf farewell!" 

< Iciu-ral Lafayette made the follnwiiiL; |-e]ily : "Amidst 
all my i 'l>li;;atii ms to the L;eneral ( jox ernment, ancj ])articu- 
larly t(i \ciu, sir, its respeeted chief nianistrate, 1 ha\e most 
thankfully to acknow ledi^e the o|i|h .rtunity ;_;i\en me, at 
this solemn and painful monient, to present the people of 
the L'nited States with a partini; trihute of profound, in- 
eNpressihle L;ratitude. To ha\ e been, in the infant and criti- 
cal days i<{ these States, adupicd li\ them a-- a fa\orite son; 
to ha\e particijjated in the toils and perils ,,( i.ur unspotted 
sti'UL;L;le for independence, freedom and ei|ual rights; and 
in the foundation of the American era, of a new social or- 
<lei-, which has alrea<ly |>er\afied this, and must, for the 
diL'nit\ and happmes-- of mankind, successix eh' per\ade 
<\ery part of the other hemisphere; to ha\'e received at 
e\ery sta;,;"e of the Rex'olution. and durini; foi-t\ years after 
that period, from the peo|ile of the l'nited Slates, and their 
representatives at home and abroad, continued marks of 
their confidence and kindness, has ])een the pride, the en- 
con raq-em en t, the sup])ort of a lonj; and e\entlul life. 
]n the rapid prosperity and in the insured security of 
the ]ieople; in the practice of L;(iod order, the appendage 
of true free<l(jin, and a national ;L;oofl sense, the final arbiter 
of all ditficidties, I ha\e proudh to reco^nixe a result of the 
republican principles, for which we haxe fought, and a ,glor- 
ious demonstration to the most timid and unprejudiced 
minds, of the superiority o\er de,grading aristocrac\- or dcs- 
]iotism, of popular institutions founded on the plain rights 
of man, and \\here the local rights of e\ i-r\ section are pre- 
-.erx'ed nmler a constitutional bond of union. I cordiall\ 
confirm e\er\' one of the sentiments which 1 have had 
daily opportiun'ties publich to utter, from the time when 
your \enerable predecessor, my (ild lirother in arms 
and friend, transmitted to me the honorable invitation of 
Congress, to this day, when you, my dear sir, whose friend- 
ly connections with me dates from your earliest youth, are 
going to consign me to the protection, across the Atlantic, 
of the heroic national fia.g, on board the splendid ship, the 
name of which has not been the least tlattering and kind 
among the numberless fa\ors conferred upon me, God 
bless von, sir. and all who siu'roinid us. ( iod bless the 
American pe^iple. each of the States and the b'ederal Gov- 



ll'alks ami Talks Ahoiit llistunc Boston, 3''Q 

eriiiiK'iU. .\rcr]>t this patridtic farewell .if an 1 1\ itII' i\\ iiil; 
hfart : Muii will he its last thnih when it ceases U> heal." 

Says (ine i>f the annalists df the times: "As the last sen- 
tence was priim innced, the ( ieneral achanced, and while the 
tears poured dnwn his venerable cheeks again took the Presi- 
dent in his arms, lie retired a few paces, but o\'erconie by 
his feelings, again returned, and uttering in Ijroken accents, 
"God bless you!" fell once mure on the neck of Mr. Adams. 
It was a scene at once, sulemn and nioxing, as the sighs and 
stealing tears of man}- who wiinessed bore testimony, tlav- 
in-'j; reco\'ered his self-pi '^^ession. the (ieneral stretched out 
bis hands, and was in a momni snrrounded by the greetings 
of the whole assemldv, wIkj pressed upon him, each eager 
to seize, jjerhaps for the last time, that belo\-ed hand, which 
was o])ened so freel\- for mir ai<l. when aid was so pi-eeious. 
and which grasped, with tirm and tindeviating hold, the 
steel which so bravely helped to achieve our deliverance. 
The expression which now beamed from the face of tliis 
exalted man was of the finest and most touching kind. The 
lierci was lost in the father and the friend; dignity melted 
into subdued affection, and the friend of Washington, 
seemed to linger with a mournful delight among the sons of 
his adopted country. On reaching the bank of the Potomac, 
near Avhere the Mount Vernon steam vessel was iti waiting, 
all the carriages in the procession, except the General's, 
wheeled ott. .and the citizens in them assembled on foot 
aroiuid that of the (ieneral. The whole military bod\- then 
[),issed him in re\iew, as he stood in the barouche of the 
President, attended by the Secretaries of State, of the 
Treasurv and of the Xa\y. .\fter the reunion, the (jcneral 
l)roceeded to the steam \es^el under a salute of artillery, 
snrroinided 1)\' as man}- citizens, all eager to catch the last 
look. ;is could press on the large wharf, and at four o'clock 
this ^reat. and good, and extraordinary man trod fcjr the 
la^t time the soil of .Vmeric.a, followed by the blessings of 
e\ er} jL-itriotic heart that li\ed im it. Lafayette sailed for 
hrance on the L'nited .States Irrigate Brandy wine, a new- 
vessel whose name commemorated a celel)rated battle of 
the Ke\-e)lution. in which I,afa}'ette bore a distinguished 
part. 

F.afayette died in Paris, May 20th, 1834, at the age of J". 
llis end came naturally and beautifully in the quiet of his 
home, surrounded by a company of loving friends. 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



THE DF.PARTrRF: OF T.AFAYETTK FROM 
AMERTCA. 

O. iiia\ \(in lic;i\ciil\ star ci induct \ i m 
To tliat dear land which gave thee birth : 
And mav the soft and surging billows 
Safe land thee on thy parent Earth. 

'Tis now he leaves the shores of freemen. 
And bids a long and sad farewell. 
The "Rrandvwine" so proud shall bear him 
The tale of freemen's glory tell. 

O, may he reap the just reward 
\Miich we. as freemen can bestow. 
And hearts like ours shall ne'er regret 
All honors done to Lafayette. 

Xow he has gone and left behind 
.\ name which we shall ne'er forget. 
The crown which we to him re-;ign 
Xo thorns or thistles shall beset. 

And now we take the cordial hand. 
Bid him farewell, and with regret. 
In yonder world we hope to meet. 
Our \\^ashington and T_,afayette. 

The nho\e verses were written by the late Xehemiah P. 
Mann of Boston, when only twenty-one vears of age. He 
had the pleasure of seeing T,afayette when he visited America 
in 1825, and being of Revolutionary descent. Mr. Alann was 
thoroughly patriotic and joined in the great enthusiasm ac- 
corded the flistinguished Frenchman. 



anti tiit 
abolition icdbrrS in 99iJSGdrf)iiQrttG 

A generaliun hclint llic C ivil War. a _\oung Xcvv England 
journalist. William Lli>\(l ( larrison. accepted a position in 
Baltimore. Thai cit\ was one nf the centres of the domestic 
slave trade. The scenes which he witnessed there surprised 
and shocked him and he imhlicly protested against such a 
.L;reat wroniL;-. l''(ir this he was cast into prison, and on the 
• walls of his cell he wroit-. with his pencil, the following lines: 

"A martvr's i-rown is richer than a King's. 
Think it an honor with thy Lord to bleed. 
And ,L;lory midst intensest suli'erings; 
I hou^h heat, imprisoned, put to open shame, 
Time shall enihalm and gl(irif\- tin- nruiie I" 

In the course of years this prophecy was literally fulfilled in 
his ease. In iS,^i < .arri^on commenced the ]3uhlication of a 
paper called the "Liheratcjr." at his printing office on the cor- 
ner of Con.gress and Water Streets. A tablet on Hornhlower 
& Weeks' Building marks the spot. Wliile engaged in this 
work he lodged for a time in the house of Rev. William Col- 
lier. .\d. 30 l-'ederal Street. In a Memorial Poem, James Rus- 
sell Lowell, thns alludes to this period in (Harrison's life: — 

"Tn a small chamher. friendless and unseen. 
Toiled o'er his types, one poor unlearned young man. 
The place was dark, unfurnitured, and mean, 
Yet there the freedom of a race began." 

I'lUt (larrison was not entirely friendless at that time. Tohn 
< I. Whittier, the poet, w ho at that time was editing "The 
-Manufacturer," was a fellow lodger at Mr. Collier's, and he 
became a devoted and life long friend of (iarrison. Whittier 
was present at Park Street Church in 1829 when (iarrison 

:!7i 



37-2 



Jl'alks a]u! Talks .-Iboiit Historic Boston. 



delivered his first Anti-Sla\ei-v a<ldress. While Whittier was 
serving' in the Legislature in iS.^5, he witnessed the breaking 
up of the meeting of the Female Anti-Slavery Society by a 
mob, and the riot at the office of the Liberator. Theodore Ly- 
man was ATavor at that time and when he heard of the riot he 
went at once ti 1 ( iarri^on's (it'tice with officer^, and •-tan(hng 




on the stan-case, held it and kept the mob back, lie then went 
up stairs and persuaded (.larrison to escape liy the rear passage 
of the building. Garrison got out of the rear window, and on 
to a shed hoping to get into Wilson's Lane ( now new Devon- 
shire Street). The crowd discovered him, dragged him to a 
window with the intention of throwing him to the ground, 



Walks iiiul Talks -Alwut Historic Boston. 37.i 

but tlK'\' (lecidcil not to kill him outrit;ht. so a few (.)f the lead- 
ers tied a rope around his body and lowered him down a lad- 
der into the hands of the angry mob. They then put the rope 
around his neck and drag.Sied him in shirt sleeves into Stale 
Street in the rear of the Old State House. 

The crowd intended to give him a "ducking" in the Frog 
Pond, and perhaps wovdd have maltreated him more seriously, 
but at this point he was rescued by the few officers and some 
of his friends and taken into the rooms of the City in the Old 
State House. Masor Lyman then addressed the crowd and 
told them that the law must be maintained, and if it was neces- 
sary he would lav ilown his life, then and there, to ])reserve 
order. Then by order of Mayor Lyman, .'sheriff" T'arkinson 
took Garrison to Leverett Street Jail in a carriage. The 
rioters followed the carriage, trying to hold the horses and 
hung on to the wheels, and tried to ]>ull ( iarrison out of the 
window. l!ut the driver had .a l;oo(1 pair of horses and ap- 
plied his long whip vigorously, without jjartiality on horses 
and crowd, and distanced his opponents. !Mean while the 
jMayor had run ahead on foot and arrived at the jail just be- 
fore the carriage. The crowd meant mischief, for they had 
erected a gallows in front of ( iarrison's door. 

It should be stated in this connection that at that time I'.oston 
had no organized police force, only a few officers, watchmen 
or constables, as they were called. It is said that the action 
of the rioters was witnessed by Wendell Phillips, a young man 
of high moral character, and of unusual endowments, who 
then resolved to devote his energies, and his life, if need be, 
to the abolition of .\frican Slavery in the L'nited States. 

In a poem. gi\-cn at a celeliration of lunancipation, Whit- 
tier writes of the earl\- (la\s. when he and (Iarrison were co- 
workers in the .\nti-.^lavery ( ru>ade: — 

"Thenceforth our life, a tight became. 
The air we breathed was hot with tlame, 
W'e bore, as Freedom's hope forlorn. 
The private hate, the public scorii." 

In the early colonial days, slavery existed in the Province 
of Massachusetts. Slaves were bought and s(]lil here in 17(17. 
In I77<> there were 2,000 slaves owned and living in I'.oston. 
but by the P)ill of Rights, passed by the Legislature. ( )ctober 
25, 17S1, all slaves in the State were freed and the institution 



.^74 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

abolished. William Lloyd Garrison was the founder of the 
American Anti-Slavery Society in 1832 and its President from 
1843 to 1865. The first Anti-Slavery Society in America was 
formed in Boston, January 6, 1832. in a schoolhouse under 
the African Baptist Church. Persecution, added to Garrison's 
strong personality, made him a great moral power and Anti- 
Slavery Societies multiplied all over the Xorth. 

"William Lloyd (Jarrison hatefi War no k-s> than Slavery. 
\et the words, 'I will not equivocate I will not excuse, I will 
not retreat a single inch and I will be heard,' did not arise 
from the throat of a cowardly Sentimentalist. He was as- 
sailed for his lack of religious orthodoxy : he was dragged 
through the streets liy a mob of gentlemen of standing, but 
he lived to see the cause he championed stir a nation to its 
very depths and to see the triumph of moral force." — L'ncle 
Dudley in the Boston Globe. 

In 1868 Garrison was presented with a generous sum of 
money as a national tribute to his great eflforts in the abolition 
of slavery. He died in Boston May 24, 1879, in his 75th year. 
His funeral services which took place on the 2Sth of ]May 
were most impressive and were held in the church at Eliot 
Square, Ro-xbury. An eloquent address, commemorative of 
his life and services, was given by his life-long friend and 
co-worker. Wendell Phillips, and there were other addresses 
by Lucy .^tone, Theodore P. Weld and the Reverends Samuel 
May and Samuel Johnson. Appropriate music was furnished 
b\- a quartette of col<jred people. 

The decision of Chief Justice .^haw in the case of George 
Latimer, a fugitive slave, that the Statutes of the Lnited 
States .authorized the owner of the fugitive to arrest him in 
any State to which he might have fled, roused the Spirit of 
the Revolution all over the Xorth. The result was the grow- 
ing sense of the wrong of the Institution of .Slaverv. and some 
of the most eloquent and brilliant young men of Boston 
joined the ranks of the Abolitionists. Foremost among these 
were Wendell Phillips. Theodore Parker, Dr. Samuel G. 
Howe, John G. Whittier. Charles Sumner and Richard H. 
Dana. Jr. 

WEXDELL PHILLIPS 

was the son of John Phillips, the first Mayor of Boston, and 
was bom X'ovember 10, 181 1. in the house on the corner of 
\\'alnut and Beacon Streets, and the hou-e is still standing. 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. .?75 

The house whicli John I'hiUips built in 1804 at the corner 
of Beacon and W'ahuit Streets, was the first one l)uilt on 
Beacon Street under tlie Copley title, Mr. Phillips having 
acquired his land from Jeremiah Mascm. Mason was one of 
the Mt. \'ernon Pro])rietors, and had improved a larsje por- 




nrmirtl I'hillips 



tion of Beacon Hill at the be,a;inning of the nineteenth cen- 
tury. Mr. Phillips occupied the house until his death in 
1823. and it was here that his distinguished son. \\'endell 
Phillips, was born in 181 1. .After Mr. Phillips"? death the 
estate was sold in 182^ bv his heirs to Thomas Lindall \\"in- 



37<' 



Jl'alks and Talks .Ibaiit Historic Boston. 



throp, Lieutenant-Giivi-riKir of Massachusetts from 1826 
to 1832. About 1861 the I'hillips mansion was purchased by 
UdlK-rt M. ^lason, who occupied it until his deatli in 1879. 
It is now in tlie possession of his family. 

(Jne can form some idea of the size of Boston, in the early 
years of the nineteenth century, when we state that Mayor 
riiillijis incurred considerable ridicule and chaffing from some 




/;„//,/,/,/, V .,/ uvh,/,// I'hiiii/K 



,.l /;. 



,1. W.ihiiit Sli 



of his friends fur buildin:.; his home in so remote a S|>ot, it 
beinjj generally regarfled as (|uile out of town." His near 
neighbor was Dr. John Joy, wiio built a house i^n the corner 
of Joy and Beacon Streets, "He was an apothecary, who had 
his store on the corner of Spring Lane and \\'ashington 
Street. He was advised by his family ])hysician to take his 
invalid v>-ife into the country and frum the contaminating air 
of the city, so he removed to Beacun llill. .\s a boy, \\'cndell 
Phillips saw many a load of hay cut on the Joy estate. It is a 
"far crv" froiu the cl;i\s when iliat Icicatiun wa^ nut of town. 



H'alL's ./;;</ Talks About Historic Boston. •'"" 

to the present when husiness men come dail}- to Boston from 
homes ,is far (hstant as Worcester, Ilaverliill and Xcwlnirv- 
port." — Boston Post. 

Wendell Phillips's attention was early attracted to the In- 
stitution of Slavery. "At a public nieetint;- in Faneuil Hall, he 
was present when Hon. James T. Austin, a former Attorney 
(ieneral of Massachusetts, and a hitter opponent of the Abo- 
litionists, likened slaves to animals, and extolled the mob 
which killed (Jwen I.ovejoy, the Illinois Abolitionist. Wen- 
dell Phillips, a youth of only i8, was present and rose to re- 
])ly. He had never before spoken in public in Boston, but no 
one who heard him that day will ever forget the scene or his 
wonderful speecli. If was fidl nf fifr\- elocnienc and of un- 




•ilrll i-hur,ps' Jh, 



an^w er;dile los^ic. l'"rom an unknown youth lie suililenlv 
s|)ran;; into fame as a most gifted orator. He stood in the 
front rank and at a time when such men as Webster, C'hoate 
and Everett were in the zenith of their fame." Phillips was 
the great and matchless orator of the .\nti-.'^lavery cause. 
When he became interested in it, he abandoned his chosen 
profession of the law, as he could not conscientiously sub- 
scribe to the Constitution of the United States which then 
couTitenanced the Institlution of Slaverv. In acting' as the 



jr^^ Walks and Talks .llunit flisturic Boston. 

champion of the slave, he iikuIc a sacrifice of social position 
and anihitious pros])ects snch as few younjT men have ever 
made in anv countr\-. 

"The averted qlances of furnier friends and their refined 
cruelty were home with liigh hearted cheerfulness." As one 
has said : "With Phillips, the .\holition ^Movement was a re- 
li.E^'ion, and no half and half measures were to he tolerated. 
He opposed every proposal that savored of compromise." He 
said : "\\'e do not play politics ; anti-slavery is no half-way jest 
with us : it is a terrible earnest struggle with life and death, 
worse than life or death on the issue." He considered agita- 
tion one of the best methods of effecting political reforms. He 
declared that he had taken Daniel O'Connell as his model in 
his own work of agitation. He was a great admirer of 
( )"t"onnell, whom he met when on a visit tn F.ngland. 

"\\'endell Phillips was the orator of all others, by the 
charm of a powerful logic, a wit that played about his theme 
with the puritv and ]Hiwer of the sunbeam, and a command 
of the English language that showed him familiar with the 
works of every master. It may be doubted whether America 
has ever produced his ei|ual as an oratur. ( )nl\ thusc whn 
had the good fotune to hear him in the decade preceding the 
Civil War can realize what a power he was in arousing the 
slumbering conscience of the North, and in forming and 
moulding public opinion as to the hideous wrong of slavery. 
He was often hissed and hooted at, and was sometimes when 
on the platform the target for missiles, but he faced the 
howling mob with dauntless courage, and with a firmness 
and a dignity worthy a noble Roman. Thousands of young 
men flocked to hear Iiim. Some of them came to "scoff,"' but 
they were swept away by his logic and his eloquence, and 
they enrolled themselves under the "Free Soil Banner." He 
had a most winsnmc ]ires(.'nce and a serene. undisturlnMJ 
manner whicli added ti i tin- atracti\eness of liis wnrds, en- 
abling him to speak before great audiences of his enemies. 
He w'as president of the American Anti-Slavery Society from 
1865 to its dissolution in 1870. He lived to see African slav- 
ery abolished in the United States. After his marriage he 
lived for forty years on the corner of Essex and a narniw 
tlioroughfare since widened hv the Extension of Harrison 
Avenue. 

THE RE\'. THEOnORE PARTNER 
was born in Ee.xington, .\ugust 24, 1810. His grandfather 



IValks and Tiilks About Histaric Boston. J7" 

was Capt. John Parker, the hero of Lexington, who com- 
manded a company of "Minute men on Lexington Common, 
on that eventful morning of April iQth, 1775." He fired the 
first shot at the i'lritish in tliat fight and said to his men: — 




"Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they 
want a war. let it begin here." Thedilcire Parker's nidst 
cherished treasure was his grandfather's nuisket. His fa- 
ther was a New England farmer and mechanic of good mind, 
a great reader and a deep thinker. If is mother was a wmiian 
of fine mind and imagination, and it was to her. that Theo- 



38o Jl'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

dore confided his tlicjui;lu^ imd fancies, sure nf lu-r help and 
sympathy. He labored liard on his father's farm in order 
to .tjn throu.tjh Harvard Culleoe. at first mdv S"i'intr there fnr 
examinations. He secured his theological education by teach- 
ing school and through the benefit of a fund for helping poor 
students. His first ]iast( irate was at \\'est Roxbur\-, where 
his noble, generous nature, and love for humanity, secured 
for him the afifection of his people. For 14 years he preached 
in Old Music Hall where he drew an audience of 2000 people 
Sundav after Sunday. He was one of that fearless band of 
Xew I-jiglanders who aided escaping fugitive slaves on their 
wa\- til freedom. One of the cases he aided is worthy of 
special mention. Two fu.gitive slaves William Crafts and his 
wife, had managefl to escape to Boston , where they were 
traced. She traveled in the disguise of a Southern gentle- 
man, and her husband, William, acted as her valet, and in 
this wav the\- came in safety over too<3 miles. A Boston 
judge, strong in his belief in property rights, endeavored to 
find them, that he might send them back to their master. 
Theodore Parker took them to his home, where he hid them 
for manv davs. He stood guard at the door, and besides 
several fully loaded pistols, he had the beloved musket his 
grandfather had used at Lexington. He succeeded in getting 
the (.'rafts safelv off on a shi|i to England, just as it looked 
as if they would be captured. "Mr. Tarker knew the hiding 
places of all fugitive slaves in IViston. I"pon one occasion 
a negro had been safely hidden for a year. His wife, on a 
Southern plantation asked a visitor to try and find him and 
deliver a message. The gentleman asked several prominent 
persons in Boston how he could find the man and was finally 
told that Theodore Parker was the cmlv man whri could do 
this, and sure enough this was the fact, for he went directly 
among the negroes and asked for the man. The visitor found 
that they had absolute confidence in ]\Ir. Parker and their 
adoration for him was touching. In a few hours the man 
was found, tlie message was delivered and he was again 
safely hidden." To crown his work for their cause, it was 
Theodore Parker who helped largely to raise funds needed 
by John Brown, in his eft'orts to liberate the slaves. Mr. 
Parker did not live tn see the consiunmation of his hopes, 
the emancipation of the negroes. He died May loth, i860, 
in Florence. Italy, whither he had gone to retain his health. 
Memorial services in his lumdr were held in ^fusic Hall, and 



Il'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. .?.^i 

tlierc Ralph Waldo I-jihtsoii (k'livcicd llic eul(i,L;\ mi lii> lifv 
and services. 

DR. .^.\ATUF.I. GRIDLEY HOWE 

^v.•ls horn in I'.oston, November lO, r8oi. and died in I'.oston. 
lanuarv 9th. 1876. He graduated at I'rown I'niversity in 
i8ji. He studied medicine, but did not practice his profes- 
sion preferring to devote his life to philanthropic move- 
ments. He went to Greece and from 1823 to 1827 took an 
active interest in their struggle for independence, residing in 
that country for several years. He was subject to arrest in 
Prussia, for aiding the Poli.sh army. His great heart and 
soul went out to all classes and races and nations that were 
struggling to throw off the yoke of oppression, and it was but 
natural, on his return to America, that he should ally him- 
self with the little band, then a forlorn hope, that was fight- 
ing the institution of slavery. He became an active ally and 
co-worker with Garrison. Phillips and Parker and gave 
largely of his time and talents to the cause. P>ut Dr. Howe's 
greatest work were his efforts to educate and u]ilift the blind, 
both in this country and in luu'ope. In 1832 he organized 
the Perkins Institution for the lilind in South I'.oston. ( )f 
the great work he performed in this direction, we speak else- 
where in this volume. 

His wife. Julia \\ rird Howe, sui'\i\eil liiin nian\ \ ear-> 
and was a woman of remarkable talents and unusual 
strength of character. Her name \\a^ a household word 
throughout this broad land, and few women have been so 
loved and revered by all classes. Her noble and inspiring 
poem, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," written during 
the Civil War, stirred e\ery patriotic heart, and will li\e as 
long as the Repul)ic stands. 

John Greenleaf Wliittier -was another of that famous 
quartette of Boston Abolitionists, and the poet whose stir- 
ring lines, aroused the conscience of many sleeping ])atriots 
and inspired to right and noble action. Although terrible 
as a prophet of old in his denunciation of wrong and op- 
pression, he had a most loving and gentle spirit. Edwin D. 
Mead, the Historian, says: "Whittier was pre-eminentlv 
the poet of the conflict, and again and again, in his ringing 
lines, he appeals to the great Boston tradition'^ to enforce 
his hie;h demands. "B\- I'oston's Mound," "\\\ Warren'^ 



3S-2 iralfcs and Talks About Flistoric Boston. 

Ghust," lie c-xlmrts .Massacliusctts to heroism. \\'lu'n \'ir- 
yinia ^tonlls and threatens, he repHes lor Massaehusetts. 

"I'^orgets she hnw the Ohl i_lay State in answer to her call, 
( )f her old Ihrnse of l;ur.y:esses, spoke out from Faneuil Hall 
W hen eeh<jinL; hack her Henry's cry, came pidsing on each 

breath, 
< )| Xorthern winds, the thrilling; sound of "Lihertv or 

Heath!" 

In 1850 the excitement on the slavery (juestion was at 
fe\ er heat. President l''illmore had signed the Fugitive 
Sla\e Law. This one act strengthened and multiplied the 
hithertd small and insignificant Free Soil l'art\-. There was 
one clause in that law that was offensive to e\ery sentiment 
of justice and humanity, and repugnant tn the feelings of 
the penpk. ,,f the I'ree States. This clause provided "that 
in Ud trial or hearing luuier the act, should the testimony of 
such alleged fugitive be admitted in e\iilence, and that the 
parlies claiming the fugitive should not he nmlested in their 
worlc i>f carrying the person hack, hv an\- process issued bv 
,iny ciiurt. jud^e, magistrate, or other person whatsoever." 
It \\a^ plainly tn he seen that under that law tree negroes 
mi-lit. Iiy the ]ieriur\ n\ kidn.i] .pers, and thr denial of the 
ctinim.in right to .lefeuce. allowed the vilest criminal, he 
canied away into hopeless sla\ery, heynud the reach of 
jiity. mercy nr the law." .\gainvt this cruel act there was 
rebellion in e\ cry htiniaiu' and ("hristian heart. The per- 
cejnion of possible wrong caused the legislatures of several 
of the ITee .States t.i p.ass l.iws for the jirotectioii of free 
Colored citizen> within their border^, made so b\' the cir- 
cmnst.'inces of tiK'ir births or existing law--. I'p to thi^ 
time, abolition in the .Vorth. had been, for the most part, a 
moral, not ;i ]iolitical (pie-liou, although in August 1S4S. .a 
Free Soil (.(nueniion assembled at I'.utt'alo, \ew ^"ork. and 
nominated .M.-irtin \ an I'.uren for I'l-esident and t'harles 
I'rancis .\dams foi- \'ice-l'resident. Hut when the sl,[\e- 
holders <lecl:ired their |uir])ose to carrv their peculiar insti- 
tution-, into the territories, and thus increase the number 
of s].i\e labor st;ites. thous;nids of voters were added \o 
the rolls of the l\e|inblican I'artx'. and the 'oug and bitter 
and menior.ible struggle in t'ougress commenced. F.mi- 
grant .\id ."-Societies were orijanized in the I'l'ee States to 



Il'alhs and Talks Abotil Historic Boston. 



?,X^ 



assist Xortlicni lainilirs in nidxin^ t(i Kansas, tlu-ii a terri- 
tory, and c'stal)Iisliin!4' tluMiist'lvcs thcri'. 

A small nuniht-r of Soutiierners nio\c<l in there witli their 
slaves, but a clear iiiajdritv of the residents were hroe State 
men. The story of that strni^yle in Kansas between the 
friends and foes of slavery is an exciting and interesting 




./</.»/ WIntli 



chapter in Anieruan history U< e\ cry studein. Tliere was 
great excitement in llnsti'ii wlien twn fugitive slaves wlio 
had escaped tn this eity. were taken liy their masters and 
returned tn hunda-e under the l'ii,Liiti\e Slave Law. 
Thomas Semmes, a fugitive slave, was arrested April 5, 
185 1. This action brouL;iU tn the front. Richard Menry 
Dana, Jr., a prcjminent citizen of Cambridiic who had a 
strong sympathy for the unfortunate slave and a clear con- 
\iction atjainst the institution of slaverv. 



.!N4 Walks luid Talks About Historic Boston. 

A rcierence tu his letters shows that he was (i]iiM,-.f(l td 
the extreme measures of the abolitionists, as led l)y \\ illiam 
Lloyd Garrison, but in that i;Teat moral crisis Tu- had lo 
arra\- himself on the sick- of rig-ht. He \\a> a law ver of 
iLi'reat ability and came into active life when the ilmHtionist 
aLj'itation was at the hei,L;ht of its imiJopularity. lie came 
out as a memlier of the I'ree Soil Party. As one ha^ saiil 
of him: B}' his social relations and li\ his >troni; antipathy 
t<i \ iolence of e\ery kiu'l. Dana wcpiild naturalh ha\ c lnund 
his j)lace amoUi^' the men, who. in politics, prefer onk-rly 
and regular and especially respectable associations." 

"The ultra conservative elements were calmly tolerant of 
>la\ery. and under the influence of Daniel Webster were 
satisfied to comproini'^e." Dana's defence of the fui^itive 
^lave. riionias Semmes. cost him the respect of half of 
r.dstdu. He conducted the case withiiut chari^c. The ni^ht 
before .^ennnes was taken back into slavery, Rev. Daniel 
l-"oster and a few others kept vigil with him through the 
long hours. The ship that was to carry him south was at 
Long Wharf and there was a large crowd present to wit- 
ne--> liis de]iartnre. It was a solemn time to many of them 
.-'.nd in the hu^li that fell upon every one. l\e\'. Air. Foster 
offered the following notabk' ]irayer: 

"Alinight\- I ioil thou seest this poor man one of thy chil- 
dren, biirne a\\a\ liy ci])pression. Thou art the friend of all 
wh'i suffer wrong and we have no hope but in Thee. That 
liiipe still is unshaken. Th\- promises endure furevcr. Ami 
nn\\ we besech Thee to show Thy power and \'i\v in bless- 
ing this dear brother wdio is carried away by fi rce to the 
land of whips and chains. C). God. make him a missinn.ary 
cif p(jwer to awaken a lo\e of justice and libei'ty that shall 
result in the speedy ■.\erthrow of the accursed system 
which now creates millions of l)leeding hearts. In mercy. 
Heavenl}' leather, do thou destroy the wicked power which 
rules us. Give us rigliteous men to administer just laws. 
Fiirgive the wickedness of our rulers and lead thrm to true 
and lasting repentance. I'itv this wretched man, who now 
goes in fetters over tlie wa\es. I'it\' and bless his brethren 
in chains. Hasten the da\- when all men shall lie free. And 
thine shall 1)e the glory. .\men. 

This beautiful pra_\er w;is afterwards translated into 
sc\eral langtiages. Fvew Daniel Foster was one of si.'\en 
lirothers. graduates of Dartmouth College, six of whom, in- 



Walks mid falks About Historic Boston. S^^ 

eluding himself, Ijccanio C(.m.iL;i'fiL;atiiinal niini-tcis. He l)e- 
came extremely interested in the anti-slavery cause. Dur- 
ing the struggle in Kansas, he emigrated there, and carried 
on his good work for freedom where he frequently preached 
with a pistol beside his IJible. He laid down his life at last 
for the cause. During tiie war he was commissioned a cap- 
tain of colored troo])s. In one fight he \\ent l)ack to the 
pickets of his company to warn them of a retreat, and his 
form, conspicuous among the blacks, was singled out by the 
rebel sharpshooters, and thus his valuable life ended. This 
was at Chapin's Rluff, outside of Richmond. His fellow 
officers had his remains embalmed and sent Iktuic for burial. 

A few years after the incident on I.ong Wharf, at the de- 
parture of Semmes, the fugitive slave, Air. Foster received the 
following letter from Hon. Charles .Sumner: — 
"Rev. Daniel I'oster, 

"My dear Sir: — I wish th.it I could >crve you. May God 
speed you always! I honored \ou much, when on that day of 
shame you made that prayer for the poor slave who was 
about to be conveyed to bondage. 1 have honored you since 
for all that you have done in Kansas. Keep on in your good 
efforts. The good cause cannot fail. 

I'aithfnlK vonr^. 

Charles Siuuner." 

In 11^54. -\iithonv r.in'ns, a fugitive slave who had escaped, 
came to I'lostou, wliere lie was .irrested and lodgeil in jail. It 
was a case that stirred the entire nation. "It had become a 
])oint of honor with the South to get Hums back, and with 
the North a jjoint of honor to see that he escaped." Mr. 
Dana took up the defence of .\nthon\' Hums, and such was 
his earnestness that all lio^ton wa-~ brought to a state of in- 
tense feeling. "( )ne man wa^ killed bv the lioston mob, in its 
efforts to rescue I'lUrns from otticial custoily and Mr. Dana, 
himself, nearly lost his life at the hands of a would-be as- 
s;issin." Not since the days of the famous Tea Party of 1773 
had lioston been in such a turmoil. The Anti-Slavery men at 
once called a meeting in l'"aneuil Hall. Theodore Parker, 
Wendell Phillips and Dr. Howe were there and filled with 
fiery indignation. The < )ld C'radle of Liberty fairlv rocked 
wih the intense e.xcitement. Such an influence went out from 
that meeting that the authorities ordered out the militia to 
guard the Court Mousi-. whicii they feared would be at- 
tacked. 



>*<'' ll'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

"Mr. Dana's great arj^iniient, which was widely (|Uoted, 
occupied four hours. Even the Marshal's guard was so in- 
fluenced by it that some of them said frankly that they wished 
the man would get oft'. The remarkable fact about Mr. 
Dana's argument was, that the entire brief was written on 
the two sides of a ])iece "f small note paper — a mere table of 
references. He was so inspired by his subject that he did 
not need to write a single word of his four hours' argument 
in advance. Hut notwithstandiiifj Mr. Dana's eloquence and 
])ersuasiveness. the case went against llurns. The trial ended 
on Wednesday, and on I'riday came the demonstration ni 
front of the Court House. The soldiers were given orders to 
tire on any one who dared to cross certain lines. 

It was on l-'riday, the Jcl of June, 1854, that llurns was 
surrenilered to his master, lie was taken from the ctdl where 
he had been confined. The S(|uare in front of the (/ourt 
1 louse was cleared of all civilian^ and till d instead with 
troops. "A brass field piece belonging to the Fourth Artillery. 
wa-~ ostentatiously loaded in front of all beholders, and car- 
ried b\' ^ome men of the corps, in the rear of a hollow 
s(|uare. In that hollow S(|uare of armed men. was the cause 
of tile whole commotion, a weak, broken colored man. An- 
thony r.urns, the last fugitive slave ever to be caught in 
Massaciiusetts and returned to the Soiuh. 

It was three o'clock that afternoon when lUirns walked 
oiu of the C'i:iurt House on that memorable march to Long 
Wharf. There were no le^s than 20.000 people, closely 
])acked all the way along (dun and State Streets. The side 
streets were also crowded, ami it wa^ a surging. turbuleiU 
mass, whose feelings were wrought up to the highest ])itch 
b\- the injustice of the act being ])erf()rmed. The bells in 
I'loston and in the neighboring towns tolled a solemn dirge. 
.Mayor .Smith had said, mo^t emphatically, that the belK of 
r.ostoii shoukl not ring, biU they tolled as if it was a re(|uiem 
for tile dead, and there were no |)olicemen ordered to stop 
them: thev had other work, nearer at hand. re(|uiriiig all tlieir 
attention. 

The cit\ was te\ensh with exciteiiient. repressed for the 
most part, but all the more d.ingerous im that \ery .•iccounl, 
shoukl it break o\er the bounds, Man\ of the sliojis du the 
line of march were closed. .\ iinniber of .\merican flags, 
(h":iped in black, were displayed. 1 langing from a w indow 
ne.ir the old State I louse was a black d'ttin. aiid on it the 



Walks and lalks Aboiil Historic Boston. .!f^7 

words, "'riu- Inncral (if l.ilicrty. " riicvc were iki clic-ors as 
the soldier-- niareliccl 1)\-. no niiisir. diily tlic <hill nieasurcd 
trani]! of men of arms, wlio were ^reeled with i^roans and 
hisses. Women wept ami men siiowed the sitjns of L;rief 
in their countenances. In some cases the dra.ti'ooiis h.id to 
clear a passage. es])ecially near the Custom Mouse, ridin;; 
their houses u])on the crowd wiiile the infantry with fixed bay- 
onets charsjed into them. As one has said: "Anthony liiirns 
liad a i;uard sufificient for ( aesar. .and .in audience of people, 
in nunihers worthy any ( ieneral that ever returned as victor 
from a war." The expression of ])uhlic disapproval on this 
occasion was so em])hatic as to he awe ins])iring. h'or the 
peace and i|uiet of the citv. it would not have been safe to 
repeat the scene. 

liuriis was ]ilaced on a I'nited States Revenue L utter 
and carrie<l to \ irt^inia." t )n the evening of that day an 
attempt was made on .\lr. I )ana's life. .\lr. Dana was liorii 
in Camiirid^e .\u.uust i. rSi5. with a line of ancestors reach- 
ing back t(j the early days of the .Massachusetts I'.ay ('olony. 
Tie was the legal associate of the lion. jf)sei)h H. L'luiate. the 
prominent Xew York lawyer and former Ambassador to 
< Ireat llritain. The execution of the Inigitive Slave Law wa.s 
so repugnant to every feeling of liberty and humanity that 
it brought out in strong relief the hideous wrong of slavery, 
and it began to press upon the national conscience, so that 
wlieii the Presidential L"am|)aign of 1S56 opened. tlie Republi- 
c.m ]iartv was well organized and the country divided into two 
]iolitical cam])s, the Democratic and Republican partis. It 
was at this time that W'ill'am IJoyd Garrison, Wendell Phil- 
lips, Theodore I'arker, Dr. Tlowe and John (i. W'hittier were 
at the zenith of their careers. P>ut the great advocate of the 
.\nti-SIaverv Crusade in (ongress .and thus before the whole 
nation was the 

IK )\. ( IIARI.I'.S SC.M.XI-.R. 

Me was born in I'.ostc^n |.iiuiar\ i>. iSi 1. and died in Wash- 
ington, D. C, March 11. 1S71. lie graduated at Harvard in 
1830, and at the ll.irvaid Law Scliool in 1831. He entered 
public life in 1851. and although meeting with great opposi- 
tion, he was elected Lnited States Senator from Massachu- 
.setts to succeed Daniel Webster. Me began his congressional 
'assault on slavery b\- a masterly argument for the repeal of 
the Fugitive Slave Law. entitled "I'recdoin Xatimial. Slaverx 



sss Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

ScctiDiKil." The ])hrasc was niinicilialcly cauL;ht up and be- 
came the watcliwurd of the Kcpulilicaii party, lie became the 
leader of the pohtical Anti-Shivery movement. So thoroughly 
(lid he become identifiefl with it, that his life may truly he 
said to have become the history of the Anti-Slavery cause m 
Congress. As one has said: "No other man watched 
everv pn\ut ^n \-iL;ilaiUl\', no nne suoo-ested so many plans of 
attack. Ud man ilid nd much lu ar(iu--e ancl inform the |»'litical 




nnud, MM Mue em'iched the llx■a-^u^\ .if ;int i-sla\"er\' as lie did. 
Added tM tins was his uni|ue'-ti(nK'd hdiu'sty and fiery enthu- 
siasm." .^ucli a ni.iu ciiuld nnt escape ]iersonal attacks, and 
his indignant repl\ tn lliese linju^ht ildwn upon hiui the brutal 
assault nf I'rest'Mi S. I'.riKilss cf Sdulli ( .irolma in the Senate 
(diamher nf the Inited States .\la\ _'_•. 1X5,11. Tins bru- 
tal ass.anlt anm.sed the greatest imli^uatidU all n\ er tin- 
-Xiirlh. and \ et tliere were nm a few citizeUN . if l'Mi>tiiu. 
who sympathized so >iriim.;l\- with the .'^dUth that they 
refused tn take ]iart in a meeting which was called In pnUest 



irallcs ami TnlL's .Ihoiil Historic Bostmi. X^'i 

aj^ainst sucli a ilastai'dly (iutrai;"o. In I'linscciiK-ncc of lliis 
attack, Mr. Sumner was laid aside from his iniblie duties for 
<|uite a long- period. When he had nearly retrained his health 
and streno-th he visited Boston in N'ovember, 1856, and was 
given a .threat reception h\ I hi' State Authorities. He was 
hailed vvith great enthusiasm li\ crowds on the streets, but 
as the iirocession. escorting Mr. Sumner passed throuch Bea- 
con Street, the windows of many of the houses had their cur- 
tains drawn or blinds closed, to show their indifference and 
contempt. 

There were two notable e.\ce])tions. the houses of Mr. 
Samuel -\])pleton and of Mr. W'm. H. Pre.scott, the Historian, 
and grandson of Colonel William Prescott, the Commander 
of the American forces at the llattle of Hunker Tlill. History 
has failed to reconl the names of those jjersons who sat be- 
hind closed blinds or drawn curtains as the Champion of 
Freedom and Humanity rode by. but what Charles Sumner 
said and did will live forever in the annals of the Republic. 

Mr. Sumner's Boston office was at Xo. 4 Court Street, 
where the Sears Building now stands, h'or twent\- years he 
had as law partner the lion, (lenrge .^. I I illi.ird. 



'c&r Ptsit of tt)r prince of CUalrs to Boston 
arribal in Boston 

■J'he I'rincc nf W ale^ ami hi> ]iarl\ reached I'xjston abuut 
4 o'clock in ihe atteriiooti of ( )cloher 17, i8(jO. In his suite 
were Lord l.xuns. the I'.riti^h Minister to the United States, 
the Duke of Xew tattle, 1 ienri,'e I'rederick Bruce, and the 
luirl St. (_7erniain. .Ma\nr h'reilerick W". Lincoln, and a com- 
mittee of citizen^. con'~i>tinL; of l-'.dward Lxerett. Robert t.'. 
W inthrop. losiah (Juincy and Alexander H. Rice, met the 
partx- at the Cottage h'arni Station, on the Boston and Wor- 
cester Road, and welcomed them to the city. The formalities 
of introduction accom])hshed. the hue of march was taken u]i 
for the Revere House, which was, at that time, tlie leadinj^ 
and most fasliioiiable hotel in the city. There was hearty and 
s|)ontaneous and continuous cheering along the entire route, 
which must have con\inced the I'rince. that he was cordiall\ 
welcome to the old city of I'.oslon. ( )n the second day. I'.aron 
Renfrew, the title as>umeil by the I'rince, for his American 
\isit. and his retinue of dukes, earls and generals, visited the 
."^tate House and ]:iaid their res])ects to the Governor of the 
State, Nathaniel P. Banks. ( io\ernor Banks, at that time, 
was at the zenith of his .glorv and the W'altham "Bobbin Boy."' 
by his grace, his eloquence and his ;dert manner, macle a deep 
im])ression upon the \isiting party. 

Following this call upon His I'lxcellency, was a compliment- 
ary parade and re\iew. .\l>out 2,000 men were in line, al- 
most the entire militar)- force of the State. After the rex'iew, 
the Prince was escorted to the l\e\ere House, and as he rode 
in an ojien barouche slowly throu.gh the ])rincipal streets, the 
]ieo]ile had amjile ojiportunity of seeing him. He was then of 
slight fi,gure, very lioyish looking, but bore himself with great 
composure and dignity. In Boston and elsewhere he made a 
most agreeable impression, "His form is small and well pro- 
iiortioned. and liis bearing is dignified, manl\- and modest." 
The Prince's dress varied much of course with the place and 
occasion, but was always simple, elegant and appro|iriate. Tt 



Walbs ami I'olks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 



391 



is said he had tci he careful wheie lie huui,' his clotlies, as the 
Yankee maidens iiad a mania fur surreptitiously cutting off 
the buttons for souxenirs of hji.^land's future king. The late 
diaries ( ). Stickne\. in a puhlislud article, gave sdme interest- 
ing reminiscences of the I'riiice's \ivil lo Hostoii. ( )ne incident 
he relates is the iiitei\ie\\ which the rrince had with Ralph 
l-'arnhaiii, a \eteran of the Ke\ olulimiarx War. "liid \ou sec 




llurgoyne when he surrendered"" a^ked the Duke of Xew- 
castle of the old veteran, .and .idiled r.ither good hunioredly, 
•■you rather had him there." "Well,'' returned the old sol- 
dier, with a ehnckle, .and e\a<liiig ,1 direct answer. "To tell the 
truth, T hear so much s.aid in praise of the rrince, that I he- 
ijin to fear <iur ]ieople are all turning royalists." The diplo- 
matic and witty repl\- and .Mr. I''arnham's manner elicited 
much laughter in which the Triiice heartily joined, lie then 
sent for pen and ink and exchanged autographs with the vete- 
r.an. Mr. F.arnham afterwards s]ioke of this interview with 



392 ll'alks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

the greatest ])leasure, reniarkitii;', that he wished "to show the 
liov and his soldiers that he bore no anger for old times." And 
who can tell but that those kind words of the old revolutionary 
hero, had something to do. collaterally, in averting a war with 
the mother coimtrv at the time Massachusetts men. as well as 
their h.iyal lirethren in other states, were engaged in a .gi.gantic 
Civil War. a few months later? l'"or when Britain was 
breathing out "threatenings and slaughter over the capture by 
a Union war vessel of the Confederate emissaries. Mason and 
Slidell from a British steamer, and the Ministry, especially 
Palmerston. had formulated an ultimatum, which our ( iovern- 
ment could not in honor. acce])t without a tight, the Oueen 
remeiubered the kindness shown her. boy by the people of the 
Xorth. and through her influence the despatches were S(^ modi- 
lied as to admit of a peaceful solution of the grave difficulty. 
The I'rince was in the city four days and was constantly on 
the nio\c. The same (hw that he re\iewed the troops on lios- 
tiin Common, he attended ;i Children's Musical entertainment 
at Music Tlall. Twelve hundred school children were ar- 
ranged on seats slopin.t:- from the floor to the ceiling and from 
the platform one could see two large trian.gles of boys, and 
two immense jiarallelograms of gaily dressed girls, while be- 
tween tlieiu was an orchestra of <)0 performers. .As the 
I'rince entered, the whole Company rose and the m.isses nf 
children wa\ed handkerchiefs and clapped hands, ]iroducing 
a line eft'ect. 

It was at the ( irand ILall in Huston Theatre in the e\ening 
that i'.ci^ton fairly outdid herself. In si>lendor that P^all has 
iif\er been exceeded in .\merica, jierhaps never equalled. Mr. 
."sticknev described it as follows: "Tiuagine the immensity of 
I'lfistiin Theatre, the dancing floor enclosed b\' a pa\ilion, each 
tier, difl'erentlv an<l nioNi richly decorateil, and crowded with 
suiierblv dressed la<lies, the royal box all aglow with li.ght, and 
rich in gilt, purple and .azure, the frescoed ceiling with its 
pendant dome of light, the m;ir(|ne with its groves, flowers, 
nn'rrors, arabesipie ceiling, its nudliform ;inil \aried decora- 
tions, and its \i(.-\\ of Windsor I astlc, seen as if from some 
immense window — if \nu can imagine this scene, and ther, 
crowd it with ricbh dressed ladies, with gentlemen in everv 
\,ariel\ of ball costume, while o\er all the lights streamed 
their brilliant radiance, mirrors and ieweK fl;isbint;' back and 
roihiplicatini; the ravs. and the soft, sweet swell rif the music. 



Walks ami Talks .Ihinit Historic Dustoil. 393 

bearing with it the graceful moving throng in a bewildering 
mass of beauty, — imagine all this if you can. and an adequate 
idea of the magnificent occasion may possibly be gained." 

At that time Boston Theatre was one of the largest and 
finest in the country, and today, in its general plan and ar- 
rangement and its fine acoustic qualities it is not excelled b\ 
any of our most modern ])layhouses. Allusion has Ijeen 
made to the "dome of light" — the great chandelier which 
hung from the dome of the theatre. It was a magnificent 
affair and when lighted presented a most brilliant appearance 
with its hundreds of prisms. At this grand ball there was 
quite a clash in etiquette, reminding one of the etiquette dif- 
ferences between President Washington and Governor Han- 
cock in 1781). the nccasion of Washington's visit to Boston. 
The (|uestion of the hour as regards the ball was "who should 
dance in the first set with the Prince?" The discussion cen- 
tred around the wife of the ( lovernor of the State, and the 
equally worthy helpmeet of the Mayor of the City. "Which 
lady should have the honor of being the Prince's first part- 
ner?" It was finally decided in favor of Mrs. Lincoln, the 
wife of the Ma_\or. .\lr>. ( iovernor Hanks was accorded the 
honor of the I'rince's' hand in the second (juadrille. 

The papers of that date give a very full account of the ball. 
The royal set in the first quadrille, besides the Prince, was 
composed of three gentlemen of his suite. The three ladies, 
besides Mrs. Lincoln were Mrs. Thomas b". Lhickering, Miss 
Sallie Austin and Miss Kitty I'ay. The Prince danced 
seventeen times and the name^ of the ladies who were hi> 
partners are given, lie expressed hinisi-lf as greatU' pleaded 
with the Boston ladies. .\t this ball he remarked sl\lv to a 
beautiful belle, who was his partner, "thev made me <l;mce 
with the old cha])s in Canada," i>utting an empha>is on tin- 
old. We give here the list of dancer and the names of the 
ladies with whom he danced : — 

1. Quadrille, Mrs. ]•". W. Lincoln, wife of Ma\or Lincoln. 

2. Quadrille, Mrs. X. P. lianks, wife of (iovernor Panks. 

3. Waltz. Mrs. Wise, wife of Lieut. IL A. Wise. L. S. 
Navy, and the daughter of the I Ion. b'.dw.ird Lverett. 

4. Quadrille, Miss l-'aiuiy ( rowninshield, daughter of Mr. 
( leorge Crowninshielcl. 

5. Lancers, Miss Susan .\ni<iry. daughter of (. harles 
.'\morv, and grand-niece of Lord Lvndhurst. 



.^')-i Walks ,111,1 'l,ilks About I list, ,11, B,>ston. 

0. I'dlka, .Miss Carrie Bi,L;elow, (laus^htLT of tlu- lion. 
Georf.;c T. I',i-clci\v, Chief Justice Supreme Juilicial Court. 

7. C'"'"''"'""-'- ^Irs. Thomas E. Chickerins'. 

8. Lancers, Alr>. Ritchie, wife of Major ITarrison Ritchie, 
2(1 Rattalion of Infantry. 

0. < ialop. Miss Fannie PeaJKjdy. a niece of Mavor Lincoln. 

10. Waltz, Miss Famiie IValiodv of Salem. 

IT. Cancers, Miss Kitty l-'ay. dau.^htcr of Mr. R. S. I'av. 

I-'. Miss Mary Crane, .lau.n'hter of .\Mernian S. D. Crane. 

i.V Miss Lily ]''ay, ilau.ohter of Mr. R. S. l\ay. 

14. Mrs. Chickerintr, wife of Mr. Charles F. Chickerin^'. 

13. .Miss .\ppleton, daughter of Mr. Nathan .\pi)leton. 

Hi. Mrs. Dates, wife of Air. Isaac C. Rates. 

17. -Miss .\ctty < iat^e. of ( )id Camhridsje. niece of Afr. 

Ilenrv l\. Ilorton. 

Mrs. Joseph I'.i^elow, .Mr-. Whitnev of Reacon Street. 
Mrs. M. I'. I'.rady of Xew York. Mrs.' C. R F. P.ryant. and 
Mr;., Wilco.x, dau.^hter of the late Jonas Chickeriny, were 
all ele.yantl)' attired. There were man\- distinguished jiersons 
]irescnt at the liall, hesides the Rrincc of Wales and his party; 
amoni.; them were ( '.overnor Hanks, .\layoi- Lincoln. Rrofessor 
Henry W. L( in^^ fellow, .Senator Ilenrv Wilson. Senator John 
P. Hale, wife and daut^hter. Dr. ( )liver Wendell ITolmes.' .and 
wife, Ihm. Rohert \\"intln-o]i, Miv Muirax, I'.ritish Consul at 
I'ortland. Maine. Hon. .\nson I '.urlin^.ime. and wife. Mr. 
Cartier of .Montreal. 1 )r. Ilenrx- J. I'.iyelow. < ieneral .\ndrews. 
Miss Harriet llosmer. the scnl])tress, Jcisiah (Juincy, Colonel 
Conn.llv, Ass't Adjt. Ccneral of the forces in Canada, Mr. 
RciL^art of the "\ew N'ork t'ourier ami ICxpress," Mr. Thayer 
of the -Xew A'ork I'ost." Lieut ,-( olonel \. H. I'.ellew of the 
( lovernor's Horse I mards cf \cw llam|ishire. Dr. Edward 
Rexnolds, .\. C. Mavhew. iM-ank Leslie, ( nl. J. T Stevenson. 
Judv;e I'utnani and liosts of dthei' notahle peo|ile. 

It was. without dcjuht, one of the L;r,andest occasions in all 
respects that I'.oston has e\er witnessed. Several years ago 
Mr. Andrew Xeilson, who was em|)Ioyed ,at the Revere House 
for nearl\- fift\ \e,ars. in ,in inter\ iew with a I'.oston reporter, 
recounted his experience with the I'rince of Wales, when as 
Raron Renfrew he was a .truest at the Hotel for those three 
days in iSdo. .Mr. Xeilson was the only waiter who was 
allowed in the jiresence of the future King, for the latter had 
his own serwiiUs. In this account he s;i\s : "The three d.a\'s 



U'alk.s- iiud Talks About Historic Boston. .595 

llu' I'rincf and his Miitc remained lu-rc were the greatest of 
my life. 1 suppose tlie I'rince left the most ])ronnuneed im- 
pression upon me of any of the most celebrated guests 1 have 
waited on. Tie and his suite arrived here on the 17th of 
( )ctol)er, i8fio. I was the onlv employe of the house per- 
mitted to assist the I'rinee and 1 had charge nf hi^ entire 
apartments, thoughout his entire stay in the cit\-. Tiie tirst 
and second floors i>f ilie house in the west wine; were ]iarti- 
tioned oflf for the royal guest and his suite and the keys given 
me. Xo one but the Prince's party was permitted to ])ass. 
This was a wise thing to do. for otlierwise it would have been 
(lifficidt to keep the public from intruding. P>owdoin .^(|uare 
was packed with ])eople, ilav and night, and we had to use 
all kinds of devices to get the I'rince in and out. without 
attracting the attention of the multitude. The day after the 
I'rince arri\-ed he s.aid he wanted simie exercise and told me 
to (jrder his bor^e. 'I"he anim.d. b\ the wav. was used by 
Thomas Hall, the scul|)tor. as a model for his e(|nestrian 
statute of Washington that is in the Public 1 iarden. It was 
owned bv a gentleman on Pe.icon Sti'eet. who loaned it t(i the 
I'rince. After the horse had been brought, the Prince looked 
out of the window and seeing the crowd. turne<l to me and 
said, '.\ndrew. must 1 go out in that crowd' (,'annoi \iiu 
get me out without their seeing me'' I replied that T wnnld 
try, and told the hostler to ride the horse ofif, taking' a round- 
about way Coming back up tlirough I'.ulhnch ."street, where 
he was to remain until he received a signal from me. I weiil 
to the I^riiice and told him wliat I had done and in a few 
minutes he was ready. When 1 saw the horse in the place I 
had suggested f gave the signal and the animal was brought 
to the entrance on the side where the I'rince was waiting. 
Pefore any one was aware of the fact he had sprung into the 
saddle, and away he went, cantering u]) the street. The heir 
to the P.ritish throne was lost one day for over an hour, and 
I was the only one who knew where he was, I'be men in 
his suite who had him in charge were almost frantic. It w.is 
none of nn- business, so I said nolhing. but was instrumental 
in his returning liefore a gcner.-d al.irm was sent out. 

( )n the fourth dav the I'rince de|iarted with a clear track 
ahead for Portland. .Maine, where a royal fleet of warsjiips 
awaited his coming to carry him back to liis home in I'.ritain. 
"We were evidently in a higher atmos|)here. " wrote the Pri- 
vate .^^ecretarv of the Duke of Xewcastle. in the i)ublislu(I 



.VK) Walks mid Talhs About Historic Boston. 

iliarv lit his trip, when rLtcrnnr; to the iloston visit. "The 
i'.ostonian^." he said, "were aiixinus that their entertainment 
should he in better taste than that of the New Yorkers, and 
tlie\ evidently succeeded." The I'rince tniharked for home 
on the man-of-war "Hero," on October 20, i860. "She had 
only fifteen days' supply of coal and owing to the rough 
weather and the struggle against adverse seas, this was soon 
exhausted. The "llero" was taken in tow by her cnnsnrt. the 
"Anadne" and slowlv the craft limped across the ocean. The 
larder, too, as well as the liunkers were poorly stocked, and 
for the last three or four days, the royal youth, who had sub- 
sisted on the choicest fare the American continent could 
afford, was eating the salt beef of the sailors' mess. He rel- 
ished the humour of the situation thoroughly and enjoyed 
the adventure which came from the buffetings of the tem- 
pestuous seas. The delay in the arrival of the "Hero" caused 
great anxietv throughout F.ngland and on her arrival at 
riymouth ."^ound she was met by cruisers and desiiatch boats. 

Tlie old town of Boston that turned her back upon George 
the Third and his ministers, opened her arms in cordial wel- 
come to this young son of England's good queen. He met 
with a continual ovation in his tour of the States from Detroit 
to Portland. It was so spontaneous and heart}' he could not 
doubt its sincerit\'. Many years after this visit to the United 
."States he said to a I'.ritish official that he wished to have every 
j)Ossible attention '-hown to Americans who visited F.ngland. 
not only because it was good ])olicy to have their friendship, 
but esjiecially because he personally was very fond of them 
and wished to make return for the generous and entliusiastic 
welcome whicli thev had given to him in his vmrnger days. 

I In the (ith of May. iwm. the whole world was plunged in 
deep gloom at the death of this great monarch. In his mes- 
sage of condolence to ller Majesty. Queen Alexandra, Pres- 
ident Taft trulv \-oiced lite re.al sentiment of the American 
people:— 

"( )n the sad occasion of the death of King Edward. I oft'er 
to vour Majestv and to your son, his illustrious successor, 
the most profound sympathy of the people and of the gov- 
ernment of the I'nited States, whose hearts go out to their 
llritish kinsmen in this their national bereavement. To this 
1 add the expression to \our Majesty and to the new King 
of m\ own personal svmpatby and iif my appreciation of 
those high ijualities which made the lite of the late King so 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. .V>7 

potent an infinence towanl peace ami justice amont;- the 
nations." 

Almost to the end he refused to take to his lied and the 
day before his decease was sittintj up in a large chair. As 
he grew weaker he seenis to have realized that his end was 
fast approaching and one of his last utterances was. "Well, it 
is all over but I think 1 have done my duty." During his life 
he had many narrow escapes from death. When 14 years 
of age, while out shooting with Earl Canning, a bird flying 
low, between him and the I'"arl. who aimed point blank at the 
Prince. Just before the gun was discharged an attendant 
threw the I'rince diiwn. and received portions of the shot m 
his face. When K). while climbing a lake mountain he slipped 
and rolled down the steep side for io« feet, but escaped with 
slight injurv. While courting the I'rincess Alexandria at 
Heidelberg, in September 1S61. a chandelier, weighing several 
hundred pounds, fell upon and demolished the chair he had 
just vacated. While swimming in the Dead Sea, he was 
seized witli cramps ;nid rescued li\ an attendant as he was 
sinking for the last time. 

( )n his accession to the throne the King announced his 
intention '10 walk in his mother's footsteps," but while Oueeii 
X'ictoria lived almost a life of retirement, interesting herself 
mainlv in home af+airs, the King's influence throughout his 
reign was devoted, more to international afTairs. liy visits to 
foreign courts and personal action of constitutional character 
in variou-~ directions, making every |)ossible effort to bring 
the empire into the friendliest relations with other countries. 
and his efforts were so successful that he has been univer- 
sally known as ■'l^dward the I'eacemaker." 

The Standard said of biin ; ••The first of l-Inglishmen has 
passed awav. the monarch. wIiom' name is written among the 
highest in the roll of England's long line of sovereigns, a 
patriot, a statesman, a governor, well fitted by the vigor of 
his intellect, and the engaging charm of his temperament, to 
be the actual, as well as the ceremonial chief of the peoiiles 
he loved so well, and of the empire he ruled with such mem- 
orable success." 

Senator Chaunce\ M. Dejiew saiil of King Edward, whom 
he knew well as the I'rince of W;des : "King Edward would 
have made a great American had his lot been cast with this 
countrv instead of being born to the luiglish throne. More 



J'/.^ ll'alks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

than a King, a great factor for peace and good-will among 
the nations has passed awav." 

< )ne incident that i)articularly impressed me was that 
which tiiok place at a dinner to \vhich the late James G. 
P>laine had been in\ited as the guest of the Prince during 
the former's \isit to l-jigland, before he had been made a 
candidate for President. Knowing that the Prince of 
Wales took especial delight in honoring American-^, othei'^ 
at the dinner were must gracicjus to Mr, I'.laine. The one 




exception \\a^ a iluke nf the rii\al hou>e, who had made a 
re])utation for bi loi'ishness and lack of tact. During a lidl 
in the conversation after the coffee, this nobleman blurted 
out. "The greatest outrage in }our history was the revolt 
of \(iur i)eople against King George the Third. There was 
no justification for it, and there is no excuse now." I believe 
that was the only time I ever saw the Prince embar- 
rassed. Perhaps no man but Blaine could have carried 
off the awkward situation. While the entire gathering sat 
in silence. Pilaine. replied, in his carefully modulated \"oice, 
"Perhaps, my dear sir, if George the Third, had as much 



ll'alks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 



309 



dii)liimacv and had as wide a kiiowk-d^e of his peo|)Ie as 
his threat sraiidsrui possesses, America tnisjht still he JMit;- 
lish.'" 

The Prince, at (Uice. turned the subject, to the great relief 
of al! ])resent, ami I >a\\ him s'r'P I'daiiie's hand with a 
twinkle of ailmiratinu in his eye at the end of the function. 

lie sought continually to secure the views of Americans 
on Irish Home Rule, then ci>nsidered by most Englishmen 
to be a dangerous move and one likely to disrupt the Pirit- 
ish Emiiire. lie talked continually of the relation between 
his country and ours, even asking- whether P>ritish dipbv 
matic reiirescntation here was entirelv satisfactorv. 



&Dutf) Boston in t^r earip JFiftifS 

Tlie old time residents (if the Peninsular \\ ard were 
justly proud of "Dorchester Heights." 

It was a place of great interest to strangers visiting Bus- 
tnn. li\- reason of the historical associations connected 
'Aith the spot, also, because of the magnificent and far- 
reaching view to lie obtained from its summit. In 1850. it 
was a rather isolated spot, retaining much of its natural 
configuration, the ascent being somewhat steep from all 
sides, and seemingiv designed by nature for the exact 
purpose for which the genius of Washington utilized it. 
There remained at that time, some of the earthworks 
thrown up in the War of 1812, when the citizens feared the 
entrance of a I'.riti^lc fleet into I'.oston Harbor. These 
earthworks followed \ery clo^el_\- the lines laid out by 
( Iridley, Washington's Engineer in .March. 1776. These 
Heights, situated so near l'.(.iston, h.nl cumjikte command 
(jf the town and the harbor. The "L'arade," the space en- 
closed bv the earthen rami^arts, was often used for outdoor 
meetings. The writer, when ipiite a lacl, accompanied his 
father to that spot, one I'ourth of Jidy morning, to attend 
a meeting of the Cold W iter .V'.niy. I i iXj^'i. a large -ran- 
ite rcser\-oir for the storage of Cochituate water, was 
built on the East end of the hill, on the site novv (occupied 
bv the elegant building of the ."^outh Boston High ."school. 
The shape of the reser\i>ir was like a segment of an elipse, 
measuring at its widest part 370 feet and 260 feet at its 
narrfiwest. There was a gre.it ]aiblic demonstration when 
the water was introduced into this reservoir, Xovember 
JO, 184(1. and it was the writer's prixilege to be jiresent on 
that (iccasi(jn. and to see tlie thous.ands L^athereil on the 
hill. .\ salute was tired by the Washington ("inards. there 
was singing b\- the school (.-hildren and an address by the 
then Mayor of l'.ost,.n. the Ibni. |ohn I'. I'.igelow. 

In i8=,o there was niucli unoccupied land all around the 
Heights, jiarticularly on the southern slo]ie. extending to the 
1)1(1 Ibarbor. 'in one side there were a few very old apple 
4(111 



ll'alhs mill I'olks .Ihniil Historic Boston. A"' 

trees in whose shade we l)o\s wcuilil often Imuige in the hut 
siininier days, where we had all the freshness and freedom 
and (juiet of the country. The view on every hand was 
pictures((ne and ])leasing. Across the old harbor was the 
cow pasture of Dorchester, a salt marsh of many acres, and 
following the shore line was the dark rounded summit of 
Savin Hill and Commercial I'oint and S(|uantuni. with the 
Blue Hills of Milton as a back.ground. A little distance 
southeast was Thom])son's Island, where was situated the 
Farm School of lioston, and beyond the towns of Ouincy 
and Weymouth. The view to the north and east, took in the 
city with its State House Dome, Hunker Hill Monument and 
numerous church spires, the wharves, the shipping. East 
lioston and the islands of the harbor. On the west, Dorchester 
and Roxbury with their many pleasant homes, embowered in 
green. Directly back of the Heights, at the foot of the hill, 
was the Old Harbor, and on its edge was a ship vard, where 
the writer once witnessed the launching of a small \essel. 

City Point was a veritable "Sleepy Hollow."' ^'achting had 
not then become such a ])0]nilar ]iastime. Here and there 
was a small sail boat, which some resident had anchored off 
the shore, within sight of his home, but no white-winged 
licet such as may be seen today in the siunmer time, dotting 
the waters of the pretty bay. The houses in that section 
were somewhat scattered, but they were pleasant and com- 
fortable looking homes, with large grounds attached to each. 
In front of the houses were flower gardens, with the old- 
fashioned flowers, lilacs, ])inks, geraniums, hoUv-hocks and 
asters, with neat gravelled walks bordered with box. In the 
rear oi the homes were their little fruit orchards, with cherrv. 
a])])le, ])ear and ]ilum trees, and .grape vines running over an 
arbor of trellis work. These orchards were surrounded b\- 
high board fences, with a row of .sharji points as a warning 
to mischievous urchins or marauders. The residents of 
the Point liad no need to go to the mountains or seashore 
in the summer time. In no place could they be cooler or more 
comfortable than in their cosy homes. .\t the extreme end 
of the Point and facing Fort Independence, was a little earth- 
work, where guns were mountefl in the war of 1812. The 
stone semi-circles, tipon which the gtm carriages reNolved. 
were still to be seen in the early days of which we speak. 

The old lUake Mouse, of which we give finite a leiiirthv 



K 




Il'alks and Talks .llunit Historic Boston. 40.; 

account in the "Settlement cif I )(iiTliester." stood not far from 
this earthwork. 

At the foot of K Street, now known as "Bav \'ie\v." was 
lV)w-\\'ow I'oint. where nia\- l)e seen a tablet witli tiie fol- 
InwinL; inscription : 

Mere the Inthans y-athcred and held 
( Ireat Feasts. Xear tlli>^ spot, below Tli,^!! 
Water Mark, wa^- the ( Ireat Sprinc;. 

It was unfortunate for the best interest and t^'rowth of 
South lioston in the rijjht direction that so many jienal, re- 
formatory and other institution.s of the City of Boston should 
have been located at the Point. By natural situation and 
surroundin.Ejs it was an ideal location for fine residences. 

It was the most beautiful spot in the whole city. In suin- 
mer it was swe])t by the cool breezes of the ocean and the 
bay. .\ l)ouIe\ard encirclintj the Point, with fine residences 
facin.a: the liarbor and Dorchester Bay, would have made it 
one of the most beautiful drives in .\merica, and all within 
a shf)rt distance of the business centre of Boston. There 
were located in this section, the Insane Asylum, the Mouse 
of Correction, the House of Reformation, and the Institution 
for Feeble Minded. These institutions occupied some of the 
most desirable sites at the Point, and by their close proximitv 
cheapened real estate in their vicinity. 

Many large manufacturin,£^ concerns took advanta.sje of the 
low ])rice of land at the I'oint. and located their factories near 
the water-front, and thus from 1850 to i860 there were a 
number and (|uite a variety of industrial plants in South 
Boston. On the harbor side and near Independence Square 
were the extensive machine shops nf 

II.\RR1S( ).V I.ORIXC. 

who manutactnred lartje stationary and marine entrines, eni- 
jjloyiui:^ joo men. He built the niachinerv of the L'nited 
States steamer John Hancock, which vessel look part in 
Commodore Perry's exi)edition to Japan. He was one of the 
first in the country to build iron steamships, and turned out 
many fine and substantial s])ecimens of naval architecture. 

In i860 he built and launched the lari.,'e steamers, the 
"Mississi])])i" and the ".\lerrimac." which were built for the 
P.oston and \ew ( )rlcans line. The Ci\ il War broke out soon 



A<~'4 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

afterwards and all commerce between the two points was 
suspended. 

They were chartered by the I'nited States Government as 
transports and they continued in commission nearly four 
years. It was on the Steamshi]) "Mississippi" that the 4.Sth 
Massachusetts Rep;iment made the \'oya.L;e from Hostim to 
Morehead City, in Novemlx-r, 1862. 

Near Loring's shojis was the ship yard of 

KDWIX .WD H.ARRISOX P.RIGGS 

This tirm built many of the famous clipper ships, which in 
the years 1850-51-52 and 53, made such remarkable voyages 
around Cape Horn. These vessels rated Ai at Lloyds and 
carried the American flag into all the great ports of the 
world, and won the admiration of all seafaring men. We 
recall the names of some of those fine vessels: "Winged 
Arrow," "Fair Wind," "Starlight,"' "Grace Darling," 
"Bonita," "Cyclone," "Saracen," "Cossack," "Mameluke," 
"iMeteor," "Alarm" and "Northern Light." The ".Vortherii 
Li,ght" made the fastest passage ever known for a sailing 
vessel from San Francisco to Boston, making the voyage in 
seventy-three days, and for ten days of the passage, she was 
becalmed off the coast of Chili. Those were the golden days 
of the American merchant marine, and from that excellent 
training school for sailors, the L'nited States Xavy in the 
Civil War. drew thousands of brave and hardy seamen. 
England could well afford to pay the Alabama Claims award 
of $15,000,000 for allowing luiglish built cruisers, manned 
largely by English seamen, to slip out of her ports, inider com- 
mand of a Confederate ofificer. to prey ujjon .\nierican com- 
merce. There is no doubt but that England saw the end from 
the be.ginning, and counted the cost. Her history proves that 
she allows nothing to stand in the way of her own interest. 
Force or diplomacy, or both, are used to remove every ol)- 
stacle. Her methods may have changed since 177' >. InU her 
principles remain the same. 

.\t the foot of Dorchester .Street, on the harbor side, were 
the 

BAY STATE ROLLING MILLS 
This comjjany did a very large business in the manufacture 
I if T rails. Their product was of a very superior quality and 
they kept their furnaces running night and day. giving steady 



ll'alks and lalkx Aboitl Hisloric Boston. A"'r> 

cni])lo)nK-nt to ,?i.h] men. Tlifir raiK went to all parts of the 
country, for it was the era of extensive railroad building in 
the West and it was in this way that Boston capitalists 
secured large and controlling interests in many of the great 
trunk lines. The business men of Boston in those days had 
brains, enterprise and capital, and Boston was the synonym 
for broad, and aggressive ideas in every line. 

One of the most interesting industries of those days were 
the various glass manufactories. 

THE .\MF':RIf.\X l'"l.l.\T GL.ASS WoRK.S 

were located on Second Street, near B Street. Here the work 
was all done, from the making of the glass to its finished 
product 

THE I'lK )I-:M.\ (il.ASS WORKS 

were established in iSii and were managed by Mr. Thomas 
Cains, an old and highly respected citizen of the ward. The 
buildings were several times destroyed by fire, but new struc- 
tures always emerged from the ashes of the old, and they 
truly merited the name of "Phoenix," the name originally 
given them. 

THI-: CH.MN' E.ACTORV OE COTT(^X. HILL & CO. 

was located on !•" Street, a little oft of Broadway, on the 
northerlv side. It was always an interesting place to the boys, 
to watch the molten metal hammered by strong arms into 
chains and anchors, which were to hold the good ships safe 
at anchor when the waves should roll high, and the storm 
should beat furiously. Their work was of a high quality and 
the ship owners could say with Longfellow: 

"What an\ils rang, what iiamniers beat 
In what a forge, and what a heat 
Were shaped the anchors of th\- hope!" 

The manager. Deacon .Samuel Hill, was one of the best 
men and most hi.ghly respected citizens of South Boston. His 
heart and his purse were open to every good and worthy 
object. On the water side of Dorchester Avenue, about mid- 
way between Broadway and \\'ashington Village, were lo- 
cated the Wire Works, which were founded and carried on 
for many years by the Hon. Henry .S. Washlnirn. Here were 
manufactured many thmisaiul miles of wire for telegraph and 



4o6 



Walks am! Talks About Historic Boston. 



otlier jnirposes. llie his^h tlanie of the works, throwing its 
glare over the city night after night, always attracted the 
attention of the visiting stranger, Tlie manufacture of wire 
was a novel and interesting spectacle to the onlooker. The 
iron, red hot. was hammered into hars, and then, by several 
]ircicesses. drawn into wires uf tlic re(|uired size. 

The largest manufacturing establishnient in the ward in 
those (lavs \\a^ I he .^nuth I'nstun iron Wdrks. under the 




management of ( \ ru-- Alger, the uriginal(.ir and principal 
proprietor, who was in mam respects a most remarkable man. 
Xo man did more ioi- \hv (k-\ elopnient anil l)c^i mterest'^ ol 
South Boston than Mr. .\l.ger. 

lie .ga\e freelv of his time. Ins counsel and his money to 
ad\ance its interests. It was largel\ through his influence 
tliat m.anv nnpf>rtant industries were located there. His 
foun<lr\ \s,is OIK- of the most perfect iron establishments in 
tile L'mted States, and he was acknowlcflged to be one of the 
best iron inetalliir<jists <it his daw 



It'alks and talks .Ihoiit Historic Ihisti'ii. 4"7 

IJy a iiielh(i<l riUncl_\ hi> (jwn. lu- succeeded in .so puril)ing 
cast iruii a> tcj ,l;i\c u more iliaii iri]}le the slrenyth uf ordinary 
cast iriiii, renic)\ini,' the inipmities from the metal wliile in a 
tluid state, and causing it to be much more dense, and this 
gave him great advantage o\er other iron founders. It also 
gave liim superior sivill in the manufacture of cannon, and 
for many years he made guns for the United States Govern- 
ment, ancj his gims sustamed the most extraordinary endur- 
ance, w lien subject to extreme proof. As a citizen he was um- 
\ersally helo\ed, and he enjoyed the full conhdence of his 
fellow citizens, who hmked up to him as a person to whom 
they could safely entrust their interests. His kindness to the 
men in his em])loy was proverbial, and he often kept men on 
half pay, when their services were not needed, to prevent the 
liecuiiiary distress which would be caused by a discharge. 

'riij-; cLonb: L( )C()A1()T1\'e works 

were on the corner of A and b'irst Streets, and were started 
in 184'). 1-our _\ ears later Mr. John .'-^oilther. became si ile 
prcjprietnr. 

Air. !^MUther was !)orn and e(lucated in South I'.o^ton 
and lived there more than half of his life, lie entered the 
(.Id llawes School, the year it was opened. .\t 14 years 
of age he commenced liis apprenticeship as a carpenter 
and a cabinet maker. lie spent some years in Cul'a a-^ 
draughtsman and pattern maker for sugar mill machinery, 
lie entered the eniplox of the llinckley Locomoti\e 
Works and made everv drawing and ])attern (jf al! the 
locomotives thev proihiced. .\s i)roprietor of the ( "dobe 
l.ocomoliw Works he made o\cr '>0() locomotives, and other 
impcn-tant and up-to-date macliinery and also made steam 
shovels for constructing mails, and these latter were used 
In- nearlv all the railroads in the I'nited States and 
Canada. In 1S41) some of his locomotives were shipped to 
California around CajjC Morn. 

One institution in South lloston has achieved more than na- 
tional fame, ;md such has been its great work in the ameliora- 
tion of conditions of hundreds of this deepl\ attbcted class that 
it is worthy of more than a passing notice. 

The idea of a school for the blind may be said to have 
originated in an .\ct of the Legislature in 182Q. incorpo- 
ratiu" the "Xew England Asyium of the Pdind." Soon 



40<S 



Walks (iiiil 'J'alks About Historic Boston. 



after tlie passage of this act. Dr. Samuel G. [^owe was 
despatched to Eiiroi)e to visit the various institutions for 
the blind in that part of the world, and to gather from 
them such information as would he necessary to estahlish 
a similar institution in lloston. In iS^^j he returned, ac- 
companied by a UKist acci iniplished vdung blind man. who 
was well versed in the cla-->ics. in hi^tor\-. in mathematics 
and knew the secret nf being able to ini]iart his 
knowle<lue. 




Iii.^iiiiiii 



Ihr Itlliul 



In the organization (jf this great philanthropic work, Dr. 
Sanniel (1. Howe was the leading spirit and tireless worker. 
He ga\e ti ) it all the brightness of his keen intellect, all the 
ini]>ulses of his great tender heart. The blind of his day and 
of all generations will rise up to call him blessed. The grow- 
ing needs of the instituticm were met in 183CJ when thev 
ac<piired possessicju of the Mount Washington House on 
I'.roadway. SoiUh I'.oston. It \\as erected in 1838 by some 
wcaltliy men of I'.oston. who believed that ."-^outh Boston 
w.is destined to be the aristocratic section of the citv and 
the\ saw a good sjieculation in the. erection of a magnificent 
Hotel. The Warren Association as they were known, com- 
menced running a line of coaches from the ( )ld State House 
10 the Hotel, charging t\vent\-five cents a fare, which was 



Walks and Talks Aboul Historic Boston. 



4og 



aftt-rwards rcihu-rd to six (.-fiits 
and tlie niutu'v was lust. Tlu 
for the r.lind wi-n.- ulforfd tlii^ 
for iIk' rotate oil I'carl Street. 



I'.ut the llcitel ihd nut pay 
'I'nisiees of tile Institution 
111 ltd ))ro|ierty in exchange 




sented the iii)portunity of eonneetiiii; the name of Mr. Per- 
kins ])er])etually with the Institution, and aeeordintjly a vote 
of the Corjioration chans^ed the name to tiiat of the "'Perkins 
Institution and Massacliusetts Asylum for the Blind." 

Intimately associated with the name of this Institution is 
that of Laura P>rid.<jman. whose peculiar condition, as regards 
the loss of hodih' senses, ;ittracted tile ;ittention .-md awakened 



4IO Jl'alks mid Talks About Historic Boston. 

the synipath) uf the IniiiKmc thniUL;h tbt- wlmle civilized 
A\(irl(l. l-'roiii earlie'-t cliiiillKmcl she was entirely blind, deaf 
and dumh and almost deiiri\e<l of the sense of sniell. 

In a ]inlilishe<l statement 1 )r. H'jwe gives in detail a must 
interesting acc(jnnt of the meth<ids employed in teaching her 
to read and to coinnnnncate her own thoughts to others. 
I'^nr a while the process \\,is pnreh' mechanical. .*^he sat in 
mute amazement and patientK' imitated e\erything her 
teacher did: Imt soon the truth Iiegan to flash upon her, lier 
intellect hegan to work, sju- perceived that there was a way 
1)\ which she could herself nud<e uj) a sign of anything that 
was in her own luind and show to another mind and at once 
her countenance lighted up with a human ex])ression. It 
was an immortal s]iirit eagerly seizing upi>n a new link of 
union with other spirits I The I'erkins Institution for the 
Blind will stand a lasting; monument to the energy, the devo- 
tion, the genius and the hroad humanitarianism of Dr. ."^amuel 
CIridley Howe. At the memorial exercises in honor of Dr. 
Howe. Dr. ( ihver Wendell Holmes jiaid him the following 
he.inti ful trilnili- : 

"No trustier service claime<l the wreath, 

For S]iarta's bravest son. 
Xo truer soldier slee])s beneath 

The niound of Marathon. 

^"et not for him the \\ arrior's grave. 

In front ■ if ,angr\ f( >es, 
To lift, to slueld, t.i lielp, to save 

The holier task be chose. 

He touched tile evelids of the blind. 

-\nd. li I. the \ t'il w ithdraw n ; 
-\s o'er the midnight of the mind. 

He leil the light of dawn! 

Dr. Howe left an ,ible successor in .Michael .\nagnos who 
m.arried his eldest d.uighter jnlia. 

KDl't. ATK )X IX .s( H'TH P.nSTOX. 

The early settlers of South I'.oston believeil in education 
and in 1S07 the\ sent a petition to the School Committee, 
pr;i\ing for an appropriation for a school, Init no attention 



Walks and Talks About Historic lioston. 41 1 

was ijaiil tci tin.' pi'tition. TIk' town then tnnk the matUT 
up anil authorized an ap])r()priation of $300 and tlu' citizens 
of South Hoston siibscril)ed an additional amount ami a 
school buildinij was erected on G Street and this was the. 
first school house in the ward. Mr. Tooniey in his excellent 
history of South lloston. skives the followino- description of 
this liuildint;', a simple and jirimitive afl^air compared with 




our modern school buildin,L;s. It was more like the "little red 
■-chudl hiiuse" of song and st<>i\. 

He says: "The school room was peculiarly arranged, 
h'rom wall to wall ran a long desk and at this sat the first 
and second classes. To reach the seats, the children were 
obliged to climb over the desk itself. At the further enil 
was the master's desk elevated about three feet. l-"rom this 
desk nmning from east to west, were several shorter desks 
and couches. There was a narrow aisle running the entire 
length of the building, in the centre of which was the stove. 



4'^ lJ\ilks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

The short cross scats ami desks were uccu])icil liy the girls 
(if the school and tlie lici\s of the lower classes. In 1821 
the citizens petitioned for a new school house. The an- 
nexation act of South lioston ( Mattapanock ) to ISoston, 
jmjvided that the land proprietors should set apart three lots 
of land, ftir a market place, or school house and a Inirial 
place. The 1' 4 fur a market place was deeded to the town 
li\ Mr. John llawes. The citizens of South Boston (jwe the 
nieninry of this .^i»id man a crreat debt of gratitude fur his 
man\- noble and genemus gifts. There being no demand at 
that time for a market jjlace he granted permission that the 
land <lonated bv him could lie used for the erection of a 
sch.idl house and here was erected the Hawes School Build- 
ing. The Hawes Sch<".l was established in 1823 and after 
considerable dela\- the city erecteil the present brick build- 
ing. It was in this school that the teaching of music in the 
public school^ was first established, and this was largely 
brought about through the efforts and liberality of Air. Xoah 
r.rnok^, a public s]>irited citizen of the ward. 

"When the llawes School was ready for occujiancy the 
pupils of the scho(_)l on (i street, headed by their teacher, the 
Rev. Lemuel Capen. marchetl to the new house and were 
addressed bv the Rev. John Pierpont, pastor of the Hollis 
Street Church and a member of the Boston School Conmiit- 
tee. Since that da\ it has had many famous masters and 
teachers, who have been loved and revered l)y their pupils 
and respected b\ all who knew them. It was given up as a 
grammar school in 1S31). but the old building is standing, now 
nearU' 100 years old. a pronnnent and familiar landmark, near 
the head of Broadway. It is now a ])rimary school. The grad- 
uates of the old Hawes School were scattered far an<l wide, 
nianv of them became famous in their several lines and use- 
ful in their day and generation, and all had pleasural)le 
memories of their alma mater. .\n Association of Hawes 
School boys and of the girls also was formed many years 
ago and hold annual gatherings. Today there is a great and 
crowded population in South Boston and there are many 
large and modern tem])les of education scattered all over 
the ward. A recent addition is the South B.oston High 
School, on Dorchester Heights on the site of the old reser- 
\-oir. a most elegant and up-to-date school house with its 
g\nmasium, drill mom ami assembly room with a seating 
c;ipacit\- of 1000 and tliric aif praclicall} ten class rooms on 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 4i.! 

tlie first floor. Toilax tlu-n- an,- 20 public school houses in 
the ward and two parochial sciiools with an enrollment of 
over 12,000 in the public schools and jocxj in the parochial 
schools. 

Till-: S( )rTii I'.vi) oi-- I'.os'pox 

In the early history of the town, the South lind com- 
prised all the territory south of Union Street. The main 
pcjrtion of that territory is now the business section of the 
city. L"ntil [804 the only thorout^hfare from Essex .'■Street 
to Dover ."-Street was \\'ashinL;ton Street. In that vear a 
cor])oration, known as the h'roni Street L'onipanw was 
orijanized for the purpose of enlarj^ing the limits of I'.oston. 
'Hie first ini])rovement was the construction of a street 
nmnins^- parallel with ^^'ashinuton Street, as far st)Uth as 
hover. It was completed in 1805 and called Front Street. 
In 1S41 the name was chant^ed to Harrison Avenue in 
honor of President Harrison. The Company did not fill in 
the llats between Harris(Mi .\\enue and Washington Street, 
this was left for the owners to do, and was completed in 
1830. and this improvement added to the area of the city 
nine acres of land suitable for building lots. At that time, 
what was known as Boston Xeck, e.xtended from Reach 
Street to Dedham Street. The greatest growth of the 
South End dates hack to 1833, when the South Cove Com- 
]iany was incorporated. It was an auxiliary enterprise to 
the lioston and ^\'orcester Railroad Company for the pur- 
)>ose of gix'ing terminal and xurd facilities to the latter. 
The railroad company agreed to buy a large amount of 
land and to establish and maintain its termuials thereon, 
forever. Bv 1836 the South Cove Company had purchased 
seventv-three acres of land and had invested $300,000. 
Material for filling these flats was brought chiefly in boats 
from the companx's graxel pits in Roxhury and Dorchestei". 
The filling was completed in Xo\ember, 1839. and tints 
seventy-three acres more were added to the area of the citv. 
The company also began the construction of the Unitecf 
States Hotel <~in Beach .Street, and this undertaking during 
the strenuous days of the 1837 panic, very nearly wrecked 
the whole enterprise. The agent of the South Cove Com- 
paiiv at that time cited as a sign of hope, the fact that "the 
Worcester Railroad now transported about too jiassengers 
dail\." This expansion of the cit\'s .are.a went on t'or ovei" 



414 H'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

30 y(.-;ir>. Toward^ llu- end (if tlu- sixties. S^hawimit Avriiiu- 
was I'xtended fnmi I ). .\ cr Strrt-t U< the Roxliurv line. In 
iSV', Trciiiont Street, tlien known as C'cminKJU Street, was 
extended frinn Pleasant Street to the Kcixlnirv line. For 
many years I hiekerinn's l'iani> l-'cirte lactury was the must 
iminiinent landmark vi the extreme Smith I[nd. There 
were Imt few ilwelliny houses in its vicinity. I'ohimhus 
.\\einie was not completed until 1871. In 1830 three and 
thi-ee-(|uarter acres of marshland hetween Shawmnt Avenue 
and 'Iremont Street sold for $2f;)().8o, or a little o\ev one and a 
h.all cents ]ier si|uare foot, for land now assessed at $1.30 
])er s(|uare fo(ji or ;ihout men times its original ci>st." W ith 
the filliiiLj: in of the llats. the streets of the South luid were 
all reL;ularl\ drawn at nL;ht anL;les. A lari;e circular |)lace 
was left, which the I'ommitti'c ha\ini;- the wurk in charL;e 
said Would he an ornamental park tci he known as Columhia 
."^ipiare. Tlu- I'ohunhia ."sipi.ire is now Icuow u as I'.lackstoue 
and I'ranklin ."scpi.-ires, hetween Krookliue and Xewtoii 
Streets. .Mhauy Street was laid out and a lar,i;e amcumt was 
filk'd in southeast of that street Some of the older citizens 
will remember a lari^e aL;ricultural fail' that was held on 
the ^rounds s, ,iue time in the h'itties. It was like a ( ountx 
I'.iir in the countr\ . ;is tlure were main exhibits (jf live- 
stock, horses, cattle, etc. I'.efore Tremont "'^treet was laid 
out (_ harles Street was the boundar\ line of |',o-tou m that 
directiiiii. I'leasant Street took a rouudabimt course iroui 
I'.irk Sipiare to W ashiuL^tou .'street. There were two ■^mall 
streets otY of it. .Marion and layette- whudi en<led ;it .1 
bod\ of wa.ter. w lu'i"e boats ami lishermeu were often seen. 
When Colmubus \\eriue was laid out. il was considered 
one of the rinest axemies in the countr\ . It was lined with 
fine residences, and here were the homes (,f many wealthy 
and iullueiitial citizens. It was intended th.it the A\enue 
should become a secouil I'.eacoii .'street. 1 >r. I'.nndy ,L;i\"es 
the n.inies and residmces at the South luid of many old 
time and well known Uostouiaus in 1870. lie says at: .\'o. 
^oj Idlumbus AxeiiiK. was Dr. (.'ourad W TsselJioeft ; ,VH 
Charles \\". Slack, (-(litor of "The (oumiou wealth ; ,:!-'5 
.\.ii)oleou 1'.. I'.rxant. Attonuw -at-l .aw ; .^'4 I'ranklin .'snow, 
the well known iish dealer; ^s,;; Alfred A," .Mud-e; 404 .Moses 
Aferrill ; 434 Silas I'ierce. J r. ; 438 John ('. 1 la\ues of ( )liver 
I htsoii iK; C'o. ; 304 Rtw . ( ieori.;e ( '. l.orimer. 1 'astor Tieinout 
Temple Church: 30S John A. (»rdway; 310 l.ansiuo- Milli> 



J Talk's and Talks About Historic Boston. -1 15 

of Oak CroNc- I'ann : 518 II. .n. A. W . I'.ranl. ( ..llrclnr .it 
Port 111" r..isi,,n; 328 Rc\-. A. A. MiiuT. l'a-t.)r C .luiiilius 
Avenue I 'iii\ rr^alist. 

P.erwirk I'.irk was iii)enccl in |S(..;. aii.l licic lixrd |. I'.. 
Hol.U-n an.l Scth A. iMiwlt. 

( )n e'han.llcr Street, (leor-e W. lUatclif. .r.l, Trea-^iirer .jI' 
the Host. Ill Miiseiini. (..'arl Zeiraliii. leader ..f the llaiuh-l 
and ITay.hi Soeiely. and A. M. McPliail, Piano Forte 
Manufacturer. 

JNIassachusetts Avenue is a pleasant street ninety feet wide, 
and runs acrns'^ the city fr.mi D.irclu'ster l'i\e ('.iiiier'^ t.. 
Har\-aril I'.ridue. cr.tssiui; l. nnni. mw ealth .\\enue. ti\e 
blocks west ..f the I l.)tel \'end.>nie. j-.ir main \ ears .after it 
was lai.l .mt 1 i^^J,^) it was kimwii east ..f W .ishiiiL^t. m --tn-et 
as Chester I'ark. I'.etween Trent. .nt ."street ami Sh.-iwimtt 
\\eniie. it hr. ..nlens int.) a mn.lest |)arl< ..f .nie and i>ne- 
tliird acres; thi^ w.i> .iri^inalh kn.iwn as e'hester .S'|uare 
and was a \eiy exclusive and fashi. iii.ahlc sectiiin .if the cit\ . 
We recall ;i lumilier .if nl.l time residents fnini llarri-Min 
Axenue 1. 1 ('.ilnniluis \\emie: l\e\-. ('. 1). liradlex-. 'I'lLimas 
Rilev. the lawxer; |.ihn Ritchie, lames 1. WinL;ate : ( '. A. 
Richai-ds, A. .\. R.mnel. Thomas P.. \\"ales, IT. P. Hallett, 
Azel Dearborn, .\.|uila .\dams, Samuel D. Crane, Price S. 
T'Aans. Oslxirn ll.iwes, William (1. Pa. Id. Samuel C. Shap- 
leii^h, \\ ill. 1'. Temiey, ( leorge D. lialdwin. Win. V.. I'.aker. 
Xathan Cr.iwell, W". R. Carnes, :\lr. Whitiier. 1 )e.\ter 11. 
JMillett, ( harles ( ). R.iyers. lames I'iske, |r.. Mr. Trull. 
Richar.l 1 l.i|.-. ....1. .Mr. Allen.' Mr. lll.mchar.l. Rex Dr. ( i.an- 
nett. SyUester ILiwinan, Dr. .Xich.ils, Rex. Mr. .Vthert.m. 
,\. .\. C.i.ik. (ien. .Vathaniel Wales, Stephen Smith. 

It'. 187J W altham .Street xxas a cmnparatix elx new th.ir- 
.'UL;hlare an.l xxas xxh.illx iiccu]iie.l lix xxell t.i .l.i families 
from en.l t.i en.l ; there xxcre 4.) heads of families who livecf 
.in that street, .am.im; thi'in D.ict.ir-- .\lbert l)av. ( i. T. Per- 
kins. J. P.. C.i.ili.l-e and h'. II. r.r..wn. There wa- ,ils.. I'.en- 
jamin Panfj, the father of P. J. Pani;, the musician. 



Boston Common 

TAr.I.KT. 

Tins TRACT t)l- l.AXT) COXTAIXIXC XKAR[A' 

1-Tl-TY ACKI'IS WAS I'.OL'GHT IX 1634 

j'.v (;()\m-:rx()K \\ixtiir< )!• axd others 

1-R().\1 WILLIAM I'.LACKSTOXE 
AXD WAS SET ASIDE l-oR Co.M.MOX USE AS A 

C<JW I'ASTL'RE AXD TRAIXIXG EIELD. 
I'.LACKSTOXE SOLD HIS TITLE TO THE LAXD I'.V 

A ri(;ht oe i'( )Ssi-:ssi( )X c.aixed prior 

T( ) THE S1{TTLI':.M1':XT ( )1- H(JST( )X IX 1630. 

In the licart of the 1his\' cit\ stands this beautiful natural 
park of 48 acres. It is the oldest j)ul)lic park in the country and 
there are historical associations connected with nearly ever\ 
fool of the ground. In April, 1O33. the ( ieneral Cmn-t of 
the Province gTante<l this "training field" or "Common" to 
William lUackstone to enjoy forever.. The next year Black- 
stone s<ild the lan<l to the town of Roston for $150.00. reserv- 
ing an orchard of 6 acres and his homestead, a small cot- 
tage, which occupied the ]iresent site of the Puritan Cluh. 
At that time the Common extended East as far as Beacon 
Street at its intersection with Tremont Street, and South 
as far as Mason Street. .\t the same time P.lackstone re- 
linc|uished all his right to the ijeninsula of Boston where he 
had lieen a "hermit settler" for several years prior to the 
l-'iTuiding of Boston hy Winthrop. l"or two hundred years 
following the fcnmding of Boston, the Common was used as 
:i training field for the militia and as a pasture ground for 
cattle. We are apt to think that the time when the Common 
was used for pasturage was very remote — but it was in 1830. 
when Harrison (ivay ( )tis. .Mayor of Boston, signed the or- 
der prohibiting its fiu'ther use for that purpose. < )nly re- 
centlv (IQI3) an aged lady died, who as a girl drove her 
neiglibor's cows daily from Xorth Street. Xorth I'.nd. to the 
(.'onuuon. l'|i to 1(14(1 vvvv\ I'.ostonian might jiasture his 



ll'alL's <nnl Jolks .Ihoiit llistoric Boston. 417 

cows tlicrt'. hut tliat yrar a \<itr was passed at "Town Meet- 
ing" that nnly tour men shinild he allowed the use of the 
ConniKin I'nr that purpose. l"'or the first 100 years this now 
heautiful and pleasing Park, was used as a "Dump" where 
tlie citizens deposited every conceivahle sort of rubbish. 
There was no Health Department in those early days. A 
town order required that every houesholder should keep the 
street in I'mnt of his dwelling clean, and should also dispose 
of the rnhliish. The result was that householders hired the 
farmers, who brought in provisions from the country to carry 
aw'ay their street sweepings, and these country men de- 
posited their loads of refuse on the nearest vacant lot, which 
of co'urse, was the Common. The Tremont Street Alall was 
one ofTensive Dump from one end to the other. As a writer 
remarked, "with fnir modern ideas of hvgiene we mav well 
stand aghast at the s))ectacle of some of the things that then 
menaced lite source (jf the town's milk supply." In the year 
1638 an effort was ni;idc by some citizens to get i)Ossession 
of this land and cut it up into small tracts for building ptu'- 
poses on the plea "to sui)ply men that want land and have 
deserved it." They endeavored to get the General Court 
to sanction the scheme. lint Governor W'inthrop to(.)k 
prompt and decided action against it, and largelv through 
his influencf the Common was saved for all time as ;i pulilic 
park. When the town of lloston became a citv .-md the 
Ciiarter was drawn up. a clause was inserted making the 
Common public projierty forever, and thus it is im])ossiiile 
for the city to sell or give it a\\ay. Originally there were but 
few trees on the Common. 

I 'collie who liverl in Pioston in 1S30 have related that it 
w.-is then a large field "thicklv dotted with daisies and dan- 
delions, that served to attract an army of lovers of greens 
in the .Springtime, with their baskets, wdio found no limit 
to the supply of tasty vegetables." Later, walks were laid 
out, >hade trees bordering these walks were jdanted and the 
rough :ind uneven surface was worked over into smooth and 
undulating lawns. There are now five beatitiful walks en- 
circling the Common, known as Park Street, P>eacon .Street, 
Charles Street, P>oylston Street and Tremont Street flails. 
Ab(jve these w'alks rise large and stately elm trees, and there 
are benches scattered along their entire length, which are 
well occ-vijjied during the hot summer days, f )ne of the cross 
walks on the Conmion is known as the "Long Walk," ex- 



4iS Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

tc-ndini;- fruni jny Struct to the C'<inimoii to the corner of 
'Fremont and Uoylston Streets. \car this walk and at the- 
foot of Flag: Staff Hill, there stood until the winter 1876, a 
inaninioth tree with wide spreading- branches, and known far 
and wide as the "< )ld h'.hn." It was certainly the oldest in- 
habitant of the "Hub." Its age was never definitely ascer- 
tained, but it is believed to have lieen a large tree wdien Gov- 
ernor Winthrop founded lloston. In 1755, it was a very old 
tree, and people then called it decrepit. It was seventy-two 
feet high, and its trunk measured _'_' \-2 feet in circumfer- 
ence, one foot above the gT'iund. ft went bravely down to 
death in that severe winter of iS7f>. .\n iron fence surrounds 
the spot where once it ^tood. and a shoot of the old tree is 
now gri:)wing there. In 17JS. under the Shadow of the (lid 
l-'lni. a duel was fought with rapiers, in which Henry Phillips. 
a nephew of Peter l''ancuil. killed lienjamin ^^'oodbridge, the 
quarrel resulting from a love affair. I'ollowing this tragedy 
the Le.gislature of the Province parsed a most stringent law 
against duelling. W'oodbridge was buried in the Granary 
Piurying Ground and near the fence on Tremont Street. 
There is much of tragedy connected with the history of Bos- 
ton Common, but once in a while there is a humorous inci- 
dent, a pleasant relief from much that is gruesome. General 
Goffe was a Major (General in CromwelTs arm\- and \vas one 
of the officers w ho signed the death warrant of King Charles, 
the hirst. Lpon the restoration of the monarchy in Eng- 
land in i(.i(x>. by the accession of (/harles the .Second to the 
throne, ( ieneral Goft"e. ( leneral W'hally and many others fled 
to America, where they were known as "Regicides." Orders 
were sent to Massachusetts \\-a\ Colony f(.>r their arrest, and 
officers of the Crown came o\er from luigland for that pur- 
pose, but the "regicides" had the sympathy and gi5od will 
of the Colonists, who concealed them for years. Many of 
the Regicides settled in the little town of lladley in the Con- 
necticut \ alley, ami among them ( ieneral ( ioff'e. At <ine 
time when he was in lloston. a fencing master from luig- 
land, erected a stage on the Common, on which he walked! 
for several days, defying any man to fight him with swords. 
Goffe accepted the challenge. He procured a huge cheese 
which he wrapped in a linen cloth to be used as a shield, and 
arming; himself with a mop. filled with muddy water from the 
gutter, he appeared on the platform. The fencing master 
made a thrust at him. which (JoftV received in the cheese in 



U'iilks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 4i'J 

wliicli lie hfld tlu- sword, until lie had smirched his anta.yo- 
nist with nitid. Tlu- eiira.i^cd fi-ncing- master caun;lit up a 
l)r(jad sword, when ( iotife exclaimed. "Stop. sir. hitherto 
you see I have oidy i)Iayed with you: but if ytni come at me 
with the broad sword, know that T will certaiidy take vour 
life." The alarmed fencin.ij-master cried out. as he dropped 
his sword. "Who can you be? \ou must be either Ciotfe or 
Whalley. or the Devil, for there were no other men in Eng- 
land who could beat me." in the early days executions were 
common spectacles and the t'omnion was frequently used for 
that purpose, the fjfallows beiii<:f erected there in 1644. Two 
criminals were executed there in i65(), and in that same year 
two youngf men named A\'illiam Robertson and Marmadnkc 
Stevenson, were led from the I'oston jail, with ropes around 
their necks, their only crime beinsj that they were Quakers. 
A young woman, named ^lary Dyer, was taken with them 
to be hanged, for tlie same offence. She was the dau.ghter 
of the Secretarx of State of Rhode Tsland. Her son pleaded 
for her life, and she was re|)rieved and went away with him. 
r>ut the next Spring she returned, defied the laws, and was 
executed on I'oston Common. The extreme and cruel sever- 
ity of the laws towards Quakers caused a reaction in public 
sentiment, and the people demanded a repeal of the bloody 
enactments, which was done in tT/h. and the Quakers there- 
by achieved a triumph. The Records show that fourteen per- 
sons were executed on the Common for the crimes of rob- 
bery and murder. Four British soldiers were shot there for 
desertion and several persons accused of witchcraft were ex- 
ecuted there. In 1740, it was projxised to build a market on 
the Common, but this was given up and the site of Faneuil 
Hall chosen. Drake in his "Landmarks of Boston" recalls 
the fact "that a party of the forces that captured Louisburg 
assembled on the Common; the troops that conquered Que- 
bec were recruited on the Common Iiy General Ainherst: it 
was the mustering place for the conflicts which ushered in 
the Revolution; and the fortified camp which held the be- 
leagured town in subjection. Tn that drear\- winter of 1773 
there were over 1700 redcoats behind their earthw-orks on 
the Common, waiting for Washington to attack the town.'" 
On Flagstaff Hill was a square redoubt, and near the Frog 
Pond, was a Powder House. There were trenches along 
what is now Charles River Mall. — then, the water front of 
the Common, and where now the j^ensive tramp slumbers 



4-'0 Walks and Talks Ahont Historic Boston. 

Dii the hfiicli ill tlic wanii Mimincr days. Suiiit- iii the Uritish 
ijftictTs will I ti-ntcd mi the Li.>iiiiiiun raiseil vesjt'taliles fiir 
their tables there, ami it is probable they i iceasionally milked 
a C()\\- that was i|uietl\' grazing' near them, for a part of the 
Coimimn was oeeupied by their tents and barracks, most of 
tliei)- time between ijhS and 1776. From the foot of the 
Common, now the I'arade (Irnnnd. the British troo]3s cm- 
barked in boats to cross the river on their wav to Lexington 
— the night before .\pril m. 1775. It was din-ing the occupa- 
tion of the town of T.nston that the lioston school bo_\-s 
successfully appealed to General (iage, that their right of 
coasting on tlie Coninn'ii might be restored to them. When 
the Stamp Act was repealed in 171)8 there was a brilliant 
celebration on the Common, and eighty }ears later, in 184S. 
it was the scene of a great celebration when the Cochituate 
Water was first introduced into Uoston. In 1837 a large del- 
egation of the Sacs ;ind l-'ox Tmlians from the Far West en- 
cami)ed on the Conininn. and in .-ill the gorgeousness of paint 
and feathers. ga\'e exhiliitii iii> of their war dances and feats 
befiire interesteil thousands. 1 )n the I'arade Ciround, the 
.\ncient and Honorable Artillery Company hold their annual 
Tlrum Head Election of ( )fticers on the first .Monday in Jtme. 
It is generalh' believed that the original [larade ground was 
between the ( )ld Elm and Tremont Street, and that here the 
Ancient and Honorable Artillerv Company used to gather 
and tire at a mark'. The first trees <in the Comniiin were 
]>lanled along the Treiiiont Street .Mall as far as West Street. 
It was called the Creat Mall ;ind was the fa\orite jinnnenade 
at sumlciwn. The Irec-s on the lieacnn Street .Mall were set 
out about the beginning nf the |cilli ceiitiuw. < In this Mall 
opposite Jii\" ."^treet was a "Wi-^hing Stoiu-." and the voinig 
people used til ^\alk around it nine times, and then sttind 011 
it. or >it ildwn on it. ami wish their wishes, lint tluw were not 
tn tell their wishes else tlie\ would not cume true. During 
tliiise eventful \ ears of the Civil War, many .Massachusetts 
Regiiiunts marched to the I'arade (iround of the Common 
and there received the t.'olors of the Regiment ft-om the hands 
of the eloquent and great W.ar Coveriinr, lolin .-V. .\iidrew. 
and from thence bore them tn the front, where thev waved 
in the thickest of the light, ami m iw they repose quietly and 
in lionor. in the Hall uf llag> nearby. ( )n this Parade 
(■round boy:, and young men lia\e indulged in athletic .sports. 
The -\rtillery have boomed forth the C'ity's jov over some 



H'alks and Talk's About Historic Boston. -4-'' 

great event, ur a welcome U< some disliiii^uishcd ^niest. Mmiy 
Bostonians can recall sonic interesting incident in their lives 
connected with the Common. Up and down these pleasant 
shady walks lovers have strolled and told the "old, old story.'' 
Old I'ostonians can recall the scenes on the-Common on the 
Fourth of July fifty years or more as'o. It was the Mecca for 
the residents of the rural districts for miles around. The Park 
was given over to them and resemhled a "County Fair." 
Booths lined all the Malls. Mcrr\-Go-Rounds were set up 
and the voice of the "I'arkcr" was heard above the din of 
firecrackers and torpedoes. I'rom 15,000 to 20.000 assembled 
and remained all day, li>tening to the I'l.ind Concerts and 
waiting for the I-'ireworks in the livening". 

MOXCMFXTS ().\ THE Cn:\lM()X 

P.RFWFR I'OCXTAIX". 

This is near the T'ark Street entrance, and was presented 
to the city b\- the late ( lardner I'.rewer. a well-known and 
wealthv l^ioston merchant. It \\;is cast in Paris ami is a 
bronze copy of a fountain li\ J.inai'd of that city. At its base 
are figures representini;' .Vrptinic. Amjiliitrite. Acis and Gala- 
tea. Another monument nccupxing a prominent position on 
the Tremont .Street Mall is tlic 

ATTLX'K'S .M( )XC.M1':XT 

IX ME.MORV ol- CklSI'CS ATTL-CKS, THE BR.WE 

AXD PATRIOTIC COLORED .MAX WHO WAS 

KILLED IX Tllh: r.oSTOX MASSACRE 

MARCH ^. 1 770. 



THE SOLDIER'S MONl'MENT 

One of the finest in the coimtry, stands on Flagstaff Hill, 
lioston Conunon. and was dedicated September 17, 1877, on 
the 247th Anniversary of the Settlement of Boston. The 
monument is of white granite and is over 70 feet high. The 
foundation is of solid masonry, cruciform in shape. l)uilt np 
from a depth of 16 feet to the ground level. ( )n this is a 
])latform of stone, covering an ;irea of 38 feet square, and 
reached bv three steps. l-'rcim tiiis platform rises a plinth 
nine feet high with projecting ])edestals <in each of the four 
corners. These pedestals are ornamented upon the sides 
and front with carved wreaths of laurel. Cj^m tluni stand 



4-- Walks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

four bronze hgures, each eight feet hit;h, — I'eace — History — 
The Army — and The Navy. The Statue of Peace represents 
a female figure rolled in classic ilrapery. seated on a stone; 
her right arm is raised and extended, and in her liand she 
holds an olive branch, toward the .South. The figure repre- 
senting the Muse of History also occupies a sitting position 
and is clad in simple Greek co>tume. Her left hand holds a 
tablet which rests u])on the knee; in the right hand is a 
stylus. ,\ wreath of laurel encircles the head. The face is 
turneil slightl\ away, and upward, as if in meditation. 

Till-: ST.ATL'I-: ( )F Tin-: S.\IL( )R Faces the Sea. It is 
in an easy attitude, the right hand resting <in a drawn cutlas 
whose point touches the ground, the left hand su|)ported by 
the hip. The na\al costume is well e.xeciUed. The .\rnn' 
is represented 1)\- the figure of a soldier strmding at ease, 
with overcoat, l)elt and accoutrements. His nui'-ket rests 
upon the ground. < )nc hand clasjjs its barrel, the other rests 
u]ion the muzzle. ( )n the four sides of the plinth between the 
pedestals are bronze-mezzo relievos, 5 feet 6 inches in height, 
by 2 feet 6 inches in width, symbolical of incidents of the war. 
That on the front of the monument represents the dejiarture 
of troops for the war and introduces the ])ortraits of ( lover- 
nor .A^ndrew. .\rchl)ishop Williams, A. H. \"inton, 1). f).. 
Phillips P.rooks, 1). I).. Wendell Phillips. Henry W. Longfel- 
low and others, — standing on the State House steps, while 
with the troops marching l)y. are General Rutler. Colonel 
Cass. Colonel Shaw and (leneral Charles Russell Lowell. 
The Relief symbolizing the work of the .Sanitary Conunission 
has two parts; one, showing the present members of the 
Commission, from T'.oston, in consultation; the other repre- 
senting the work in the field. Portraits are given of Gover- 
nor Rice. Tames Russell Lowell, Ezra H. Gannett, T). D.. F,. 
R. Mu.Ige". George Ticknor, Marshall P. F.ilder, Colonel W. 
\\'. Clai)]). Re\-. lulward Everett Hale and several ladies. 
"The Return from the ^^'ar" is the most elaborate relief. Tt 
represents a regiment drawn up in front of the State House. 
On the steps are ( lovernor .\ndre\v. Dr. Edward Re\nolds. 
Henry Wilson, Go\ernor Clafiin, Mavor Sluirtleff, Ti'd.tl'c 
Putnam. Charles Stmmer and <nhers. Generals Banks, De- 
von, r.artlett and l'nderwoo<l are cjii horseback. The F'ourth 
Relief conunemorates the acliievements of the Xavv, and has 
two ]iarts. The left-hand ])ortion shows a grou|) of eleven 
figun-v and iTpre^em- thr dei)arture of sailors from home; 



//■(;/A'.s- diiil 'l\ilks .Ihoiil Ihstiinc Hoslon. 4-'3 

while on the ris;ht is a view of a naval ensai^enient. On the 
plinth rests the pedestal |)n>per, 14 feet 5 inches in hci.!;iit. 
terminating in a sub-base. Ilie >i(les of the die are ])aneiled. 
On that facing the Sduth is cut the following inscription, 
written by Charles W. V.\\n\, President of Harvard Univer- 
sity : 

TO THh: .Ml-:.\ OF liOSTON 
WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY 

ON LAND AND SEA IN THE WAR 

\\HICII Kl'.l'T THE l-NION WHOLE, 

1 )I-:STR(jYh:D SLAVERY 

AND .MAINTAINED THE CONSTITUTION 

THE CRATEEUL CITY 

HAS BUILT THIS MONUMENT THAT 

THEIR ENAMl'LE MAY SPEAK TO 

COMINCi (FENERATIONS. 

From the sub-base of the pedestal rises the granite shaft 
which is of the Roman Doric order. About its base are 
grouped figures in alto relievos, representing the four sec- 
tions of the L'nion, North, South. East and West. Sculp- 
tured wreaths surround the shaft at irregular intervals. The 
capstone is a circular block of granite, 2 feet 1 1 inches high 
and 5 feet in diameter. ( )n the block stands the bronze 
ideal statue of the (ienius of America, which was cast in 
Philadelphia, and is 1 1 feet high, representing a female 
dressed in a flowing robe. ( )ver the robe is a. Icoose tunic, 
l)ound with a girdle at the waist. A heavy mantle, clasped 
at the throat, is thrown back over the shoulder, and falls the 
full length of the figure behind. ( )n the head is a crown 
with i,^ stars. In the right hand which rests on the hilt of 
one unsheathed sword are two laurel wreaths. The left 
hand holds a banner draped about a staff which reaches to 
a height of 6 feet above the head. The face fronts towards 
the South, and the head is slightly I)Owed. The cost of 
the entire monument was $75,ocx).(LX1. Martin Millmore. of 
Boston, was the scul|)tor. It is without doubt one of the 
finest and most artistic Soldiers' Monuments in the country 
and Bostonians are particularly proud of it. 

The Dedication Exercises were p.irticularlx ini|iressive. 
Over 2^,000 men marched in the proces-ion. including the 



424 



iralks 



and Talk.' 
tliL- V. 



Ahont Historic Boston. 



militia .if tlic Stair, tlic vrtL-rans of the Grand Army of the 
Kepulihc. the leaihnj; ,<,'-enerals of the Civil War, the State 
ancl city officials, civic societies, school children, etc. The 
procession marched (iver a route more than six miles long, 
and was four hours in pasing' a given point. The principal 
featin-e of the dedication ceremonies was the oration hv 
General Charles Devens. 




Boston iibriuirs 

In the iiunihcT. varii-ts and value of its F-ibraries. Iloston 
leads all American cities and will cimipare favorably with 
European capitals. It is well named the "Modern Athens,"' 
for these libraries make it the seat of literature and science, a 




Thr IIdsIoii fiihltr l.iln 



most desirable centre for the student and scholar. In these 
libraries there arc not onh' nianv thousands of books, but also 
several hundred thousand pamphlets. Access to all of the 
libraries may easily be obtained b\- any one desiring- to use 
them. The oldest librar\- is th.it (jf the '"JNIassachusetts His- 
torical Society, located at 1154 Unylston Street. This library 
was founded in 1791, and its object was to preserve for ref- 
erence, all books, pamphlets and manuscripts containing his- 
torical facts. In 1856. .Mr. Thomas Dowse presented the So- 
ciety with 5,000 tinely bound volumes, and many choice works. 
The library contains many local histories, and many histories 



426 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

n\ thv Ci\il War. W'liilc the nifmljershiii is limited to lOO, 
llu- liiirary may be used by anyone. 

lujr many years the Society had its headquarters in the attic 
of h'aneuil Hall, but it is now well housed on Roylston Street. 
In its rooms the visitor may see many relics of great historic 
interest. There are the swords of Myles Standish, Governor 
(Tarver, Governor Brooks, Colonel Prescott, Sir William Pep- 
perell. Captain Linzee and Colonel Church. There also is a 
silk flag presented by Governor John Hancock, to a colored 
company called the "lUicks of America"; King I'hili]i's samp 
bowl : the desk used for m.any years b\- the Speaker of the 
House of Representati\ es in tlie < )ld .State House; an oak 
chair made in London in i''>i4, ,-ind l)rought over in the "May- 
flower" by Edward W'inslow. There are ]iortraits of Govern- 
ors Winthrop. F.ndicott, Winslow, Dummer, Pelcher, Hutch- 
inson. Storv Gore and others. The librarian is Dr. Samuel .\. 
( '.reen. 

THE l'.()ST(^X .\TllEX.\Er.M 

The P.oston Athenaeum occupies a fine building on Beacon 
Street. It grew out of a Reading Club, established by a niun- 
ber of IJoston gentlemen in 1807. .\t first it included a mu- 
seum of n.atural history and an art gallery, but later on, the 
curios and collections were transferred to societies devoted to 
these different objects. The ri.ght to use the library is con- 
fined to the stockholders and their families. These stockhold- 
ers pay annual assessments which entitles them to take books 
from the building. About 3000 volumes are added to the li- 
brary every year. It was originally located on Congress Street 
but in 1840, it erected and moved into the handsome building 
on the south side of Beacon Street, between Rowdoin and 
Somerset streets. In 1848 the corporation purchased the li- 
brary of George Washington at a cost of .^4,000. There are 
many interesting and \aluable collections on its shelves. 

THE r,()ST( ).V ITIU.IC IJI'.R \K\' 

The Boston Public Library was authorized in 1848, and was 
first opened in 1854 on Mason Street, the Hon. Edward Ev- 
erett being the first ])resident of the board of trustees. He 
m;ide ,1 gift of i.ooo liooks to the l.ibriirv. Tod;i\' the library 



Jl'alks iiiid Talks Aboitt Historic Boston. 4-7 

is one of the largeset in the country havini; over 900,000 books. 
For many years after leaving Mason Street, it was located on 
Boylston Street, directly ojiposite the Common, in a tine brick 
building erected by the city. In 1852, Joshua Hates of London 
gave the Library ^^50.000, and .^30,000 worth of books. Mr. 
George Ticknor, a well-known Bostonian, for many years at 
the "Old Corner Bookstore."' gave the library nearly 7,500 
books, including his very valuable Spanish collection. The 
sons of Nathaniel Bowditch. ,gave their father's library of 
over 2500 books and manuscripts, .\bbott Lawrence. Mary 
P. Townsend. and Jonathan Phillips, made liberal bequests, 
amounting to nearly .$50,000. The Prince collection, which, in 
1758 was deeded to the Old South Church, is now on the 
shelves of the Library. .Several years ago it secured a fine 
collection of 12.000 volumes including the best .Shakesperian 
collection in the country. It has many branches in different 
sections of the city, in .South Boston, East Boston, North End, 
South End, Roxbury, Charlestown, Brighton, Jamaica Plain 
and Dorchester. Its advantages are open to all, and is much 
appreciated by all classes of citizens, and ranks as one of the 
largest libraries in the world for free circulation. The Li- 
brary now occujiies the ma.gnificent building on Dartmouth 
Street between Huntington .\\'enue and Boylston Street. On 
the front is this inscription "Built Ijy the ]ieople and dedicated 
to the advancement of learning." It ranks among the verv 
finest library buildings in the world and stands second onlv 
to the Congressional Library in Washington, D. C. 

The City of Boston has six million dollars invested in its 
public library system. The cost of maintenance approaches 
$400,000 annually, and it .grows year ))y year. 

".\s an investment it shows returns whose value cannot 
be computed in dollars and cents, but whose influence upon 
I)oi)ular enlightenment and whose contribution to popular en- 
tertainment are manifest. More than 800,000 volumes are 
collected and classified in the Central Library: more than a 
i|uarter of a million are placed in the t,^ branch libraries. There 
are 17 reading rooms, open to all, each of which is a delivery 
station, with some 2.000 periodicals and newspapers, available 
for those who come there. The Public Librarv statistics are 
impressive of its v;ihie. In lor,^. our people were supplied 
with books to read to the number of 1,848,07.^. " 

43s 



EJnion ©anft Btiiltiinff 
40 S>tdtr feitrcft. IS.iO 

Thiilt ahoiit iSio. Ilfic \\a> tlic house ami dry ,L;oods 
sluip iif Antlinny Stn(ldai"(l. tlu- riclu-st I'h istc mian and great- 
est real estate (iperatnr df Iii> time. The record of his death 
in 16S7 says: '"He was the aneientist shopkeeper in towne." 
Stoddard's house seems to ha\'e been the State's Arms 'I'av- 
ern, where the Magistrates of the town dined, and was 
succeeded by the Royal Custom House. The Stock Ex- 
change was here in the early fifties. This corner was start- 
ing point for tir-~t regular stage-coach to \e\v ^"ork City 
in 1772. — T^>om llistoric Prints, ]iulilished In- the Stafe 
Street Trust (.'iim]ian\. 




/;.,„/. Ihiihli 




Ohl H,,sl',li .( Mli'imi ir I!. iKpnI. 1 S.-,0 




Tl^e 9?frr8antS' (Etcftansf, §»tatr fetrrrt 

The large huildiiij^ in the forei^rouiul is the Merchants" 
Mxchanfje as it looked in 1850 to i860. It was built in 1841 
and was for many years a most imposing' structure. In the 
centre of the front was a large and magnificent piece of carv- 
ing in Ouincy granite of a Horn of Plenty, and as the writer 
has been informed was done at the State Prison. On the 
lower floor of the building the Boston Post Office was located 
for many years. On the second floor was the Merchants' 
I''xchange where were files of home and foreign papers, and 
many items of interest to merchants. The building on the 
extreme right of the cut with the arched windows was the 
home of the Washington ISank. In the three-story building 
on the corner of State and Kilby Streets were the oiifices of 
the Firemen's Fund Insurance Company, on the second floor 
were the Banking rooms of the Bank of Xorth America, and 
the top floor wa> the nftice of the Huston Clearing House. 




.\rrn-liiiiily K.nliiiiifi, l!ii iliJinii. Slafv Slird. l,S.-)0 



£)r. Qlibfc COrnticn l?oInus 

"llic y(.-ar i.Scx) was the hirtli \ car of a large miiubcr of 
famous and brilliant men. \\ illiam E. Gladstone, the grand 
old statesman; Chopin and .Mendelssohn, masters in music: 
Charles Darwin, the great modern scientist: Samuel F. 
Smith, the autlu)r cif our great national hjnin "America ;" 
Alfred Tenn_\son, England's great poet : and Abraham Lin- 
coln, the grandest figure of modern times." ]ii that same 
year our genial and gifted ()li\er Wendell Holmes, known 
tlu- worbl over as the "Wutocrat nf tile I'.rcakf.nst Table," 
was born Aui4ust J'), in an old gambrel rtmf house on 
Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, under the shadow of 
Ilar\ard L'niversity. His father was a minister, his mother 
was the daughter of judge Wendell, a noted Revolutionary 
patriot. Xew England claim- ( )liver Wendell Holmes 
particularly as her o\\n. As one has said, "He passed his 
life among her cities, and gently rolling hills, which he 
dearly loved: he supiiorted her best impulses, her foremost 
institutions, he knew, in short, no other world." In think- 
ing of him we look at his literary genius and ability, and 
almost forget that he was a most capable physician, .\fter 
studving meilicine ver\- thoroughly in lioston, he went to 
l^aris and finished there. Returning to America he com- 
menced his )iractice in lloston. He won four I'.oylston 
prizes in two vears as Professor of Anatomy at Hartmouth. 
and later became the I'rofessor of Anatomy at the Harvard 
-Medical School. He was a skillful dissecter, a life long 
medical educator and revolutionized the treatment of a most 
dangerous epidemic fever. In his genial humor he often 
referred to his chair of medicine as his "settee." T-'or many 
vears he was a constant contributor to the "r>oston Medical 
and Surgical lournal." which was published by that well 
known Boston printer, David Clapp, whose office \vas on 
the north corner of Franklin and ^Vashington .Streets. Dr. 
Holmes and Mr. Clapi^ were warm personal friends. In an 
article entitled "The Evolution of the ."-^outh luid." pub- 
lished some vears ago in the "lloston Globe" and written 1)\ 

431 



43- U'alhs and Talks About Historic Boston. 

Dr. Iluiidy an old time resident anil ]ih}sieian in that sec- 
tion, he rehites a little personal experience showing the 
humorons side of Dr. Jlolnies" nature. In i860, Dr. Bundy 
was a student at tin- llarxard Medical School, and his spe- 
cial instructor was Di". llohnes. lie says: "the genial doc- 
tor was famous for his ]>ractical jokes, and I sli.all always 




W . ml, II II', In 



remem])ei' an incident of which 1 was an innocent victim. 
The doctcjr once ,L;a\e me a ■-kull as a home lesson, -with 
instruction^ to find out all 1 could "idiout it and give a reci- 
tati<in or statement of the ie--ult of m\- study. Well. I took 
the skull home and pondered (wer it all the evening. I no- 



Jl'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. -l.ii 

tiocd all the points I ccnild think nf, until 1 rcyanlcd my- 
self as 'letter perfect' for niv examination. Returning,;; the 
next day, with ni\' not cheerful companion, the skull, Ur. 
]iolmes, at the recitation room took down from a near by 
shelf another skull and he -aid to me, 'JJundy, tell us what 
you know abt)ut that skull.' " Well, 1 began and told all 1 
thought I knew about it and 1 tlattered myself 1 had done 
very well for a student. 

■"Xow. IJundy," said Dr. Holmes, pointing to a hole in the 
top of skull number two, "what foramen (a technical term 
for a cavity) is that?" "I was puzzled," said Dr. Bundy, 
"for that hole was not in the skull which 1 took home." "I 
was deeply meditatiuL; what that particular aperture in that 
particular place could be, when 1 detected a twinkle in the 
eyes of the autocrat." "Well, lUmdy," said Dr. Holmes, 
"that foramen is simply the screw hole that was bored, for 
the purpose of hanging the skeleton to which this skull was 
once attached in its own closet." That joke was on me, 
as the latter day vernacular has it, and many a time has 
Dr. Holmes and' myself, especially the former, had a good 
laugh o\-er it." Dr. Ilolmes, 1>\- his writings antl his songs 
and his genial manner. l)ecame dearly lo\ed by all Xew 
iMigland, and he won the love of all mankind. "Now genial, 
with humor, he sympathized with the foibles of a brother. 
Xow, deeply touched with loss, he mourned a departed 
friend. Xow, welling up with furious indignation, he pours 
out a stirring protest against an un])atriotic desecration." 

"( )h t'arolina, L'arolina. child of the sun. 

We can never forget that our hearts have been one. 

Our foreheads both sprinkled in Liberty's name, 

I'rom the fountain of blood with the finger of fame, 

(!o, then, our rash sister, afar and aloof, 

l\un wild in the sunshine, away from our roof, 

I'.ut when your heart aches, and yonr feet have gro« n sore. 

Remember the ])athway that leads to our door." 

"With the simple imagery of a sea shell in one of the most 
beautiful passages of all \erse, he jiroclaimcd his belief in 
the innnortality of the soul." 

"Build thee more stately mansions. () my -oul. 
As the swift seasons roll! 



4M U'alks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

Let each new temple, nobler than the last. 

Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast. 

Till thou, at length art free. 

Leaving- thine outgrown shell, by life's unresting sea." 

For over tifty years his stirring lines on "Old Ironsides" 
have been declaimed by thousands of school boys. They 
were written when he was quite a young man, a student in 
the Harvard .Medical School. He was greatly beloved by 
his classmates at Harvard and hi-; talen^ts were alwavs in 
demand, and cheerfully given at the class reunions. Ho 
wrote 44 poems for those occasions. That class of 1829 
was a famous one, and their reunions have been immortal- 
ized by the tender and graceful verses of Dr. Holmes. His 
class poem, "The Boys" is a fine specimen of his (|uaint and 
genial humor. 

"Has any old fellow got mixed with the boys? 
H there has take him out. without making a noise. 
Hang the almanac's cheat, and the catalogue's spite! 
< >ld Time is a liar! We're 20 tonight!" 

\\'riting to Julia Ward Howe on her 70th birthday, he 
says : "To be seventy years young is some times far more 
cheerful and hopeful tlian to be fortv years old." He had 
three Boston homes : in Montgomerv Place where he lived 
eighteen years: then on the river side of Charles Street and 
from 1870 on the river side of I'.eacon .Street. His summers 
were spent in Beverly. On one occasion, his old friend, 
James T. Fields, the author and publisher, wrote him from 
"Manchester-by-the-Sea." and Holmes, in his answer 
termed his simimer town "Be\"erh-. b\- tin- Deiiot." 

"There is a buniorous \fin th;it runs through most of his 
])oems, always wholesome and mirth provoking and reflect- 
ing the kind and sunny temperament of the man. l)ut he 
once wrote, 'It would be one of the most agreeable reflec- 
tions to nu- if I could feel that I left a few hymns worthy 
to be rememberd after me.' When Fowell started the 
'.\tlantic Monthly' in 1850, he secured Dr. Holmes as one 
of his first contributors." 

In tlie first number of that magazine appeared the first 
installment of the "Autocrat of the I'.reakfast Table." pa- 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 435 

])er.s. They were always full of bright and witty sayings 
and of wisdom too. We give just a few quotations. 

"Sin has manv tools, but a lie is a handle that fits them 
all." 

''Everybody likes and respects self-made men. It is a 
great deal l)etter to 'he made in that way, than not to be 
made at all."' 

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where 
we stand, as in what direction we are moving." 

"If you would be happy in Berkshire you must carry 
mountains in your brain : and if you would enjoy Xahant, 
■■.'ou must have an ocean in your soul. Nature plays at 
dominoes with you. You must match her piece or she will 
never give it up to you." 

"Give us the luxuries of life and we will dispense with the 
necessaries." 

He was intensely proud of lioston and of all her tradi- 
tions. He carried Boston on his heart and on his tongue 
and had terrible maledictions for those who attempted to 
sneer at her. This love of I'.oston runs all through his 
"Autocrat Papers." 

"Boston is the place to be born in. but if you can't fix it 
so as to be born here you can ccjpic and live here." 

".N, man can see further. Sir, from the top of the State 
House, and see more that is worth seeing, than from all the 
])vramids and turrets and steeples in all the places of the 
Avorld." 

".\11 that 1 claim for I'x.ston is that it i- the thinking cen- 
tre of the continent and therefore of the planet." 

"The heart of the world beats under the three hills of 
Boston, sir." 

"This is the great macadamizing place, always cracking up 
something." 

"Boston's State House is the hub of the solar system. You 
couldn't pry that out of a Boston man if you had the tire of 
all creation straightened out for a crowbar." 

"How high is Boston's 'meetinghouse?' As high as the 
first steps of the stairs that lead to the New Jerusalem. Isn't 
that high enough ?" 

"Full of crooked little streets ; but I tell you. Boston has 
opened and kejit open more turnpikes that lead straight to 
free thought and free speech and free deeds than any other 



4,Vi ]Vii!hs ami Talks About ffistoric Boston. 

city of li\e men or dead men, I don"t care how broad their 
streets, nor how high their steeples." 

One of his most stirring and patriotic poems was entitled 
"Union and Liberty" and written about the time of the Civil 
War. 

L'XIOX AXl) i.iiu-.Rrv. 

lly Oliver Wendell Holmes. 

Flas" i)f tile heroes wIkj left us their glorw 

Borne through their battle-fields' thunder and flame. 
Blazoned in song and illumined in storv, 

\\'ave o'er us all who inherit their fame! 
I'p with our banner bright. 
Sprinkled with starrv li,ght. 
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore, 

While through tlie sounding sky 

Loud rings the Xation's cry, — 
Union and Lilierty ! < 'ne e\-crmore! 

Light of our firmament, guide ni our Xation, 

Pride of her children, and hduored afar. 
Let the wide beams of th\ full constellation 

Scatter each cloud that wnuld darken a star! 

Emijire unsceptre<l! wliat foe shall as>ail thee. 

Bearin.g the standard of Liberty's van? 
Think not the Uod of thy fathers shall fail thee, 

.Striving with men for the l)irthright of man! 

'S'et if. l)y madne>s and treachery blighted. 

Dawns the dark hour when the sword thou must draw, 

Then with the arms of thy millions united, 

Snu'te the bold traitors to I'reedom and Law! 

Lord of the L'ui\er.sc! shield un and guiile us. 

Trustin,g Thee always, through shadow and sun! 
Thou hast united us. wlio shall divide us? 

Keej) us. oh keep us, the .\hmy in One! 
L'p with our banner lirigbt, 
Sjjrinkled with starrv light. 
.S])read its fair eiublcm-^ from luountain to shore. 

While through tiie sounding sk\ 

Loud rings the .Xation's cr\-. — 

Union and Liliertx' ! ( )ne e\ermore ! 



lI'tilL's and 'talks Aboiil llistoyic Bustoii. 



4.S7 



( >n the 3r(l of December. iSjtj, a noiahle j^atheriiitj was lield 
at Hotel Drunswick. It was a breakfast given by tlie pro- 
])rietors of the "Atlantic ?^Ionthly" in honor of Oliver Wen- 
dell Holmes who, on Aug-ust 2()tli previous, had attained his 
70th l)irth(la\-. We have spoken of the many poems written 
l)y Dr. Holmes for his class reunions. One of the last and 
the most touching of them all was that written for the re- 
nnimi of tS8o. and entitled 




I'.illhpllU: „f (Hi 



AFER THP: CrRFEW. 

".So ends 'The llo}-s' — a lifelong pla\, 
^\'e. too. inust hear the ])rom])ter's call. 

To fairer scene, and brighter day. 
h'.'ircwell ! I let the curtain fall!" 



Kfb. (Ctrtoart) CEbcrcft laalc, 2D. 2D. 

Boston's "Grand Old Ainu" came uf a distinguibhcd Xew 
England family. He was born in Boston, April 3, 1822. and 
died June 10, 1909, and was the son of Nathan Hale, the 
editor of the Boston Daily Advertiser, in its day the le.td- 
ing business paper in New England, which had the honor 
of publishing the first daily paper in the country. Dr. Hale's 
early home in Boston was on School Street, near the Parker 
Elouse, and in his autobiography he gives an interestmg 
account of home life in the Hale homestead, of his early 
friends and the social life of Boston in those days, llis 
father \va^ nut nnly prominent in business circles, Vnit of 
great influence politically, and entertained as guests at his 
home many of the great men of the country. Young Hale 
had rare opportunities of meeting and studying the men at 
close range and in this wav formed not a few lasting friend- 
ships with some of them. He received a liberal educatinn, 
graduating from Harvard in 1839. While there he was as- 
sociated with some brilliant voung men who became dis- 
tinguished in after life in the various professions. His life 
of James Russell I^owell is a lieautiful tribute ti 1 a dear and 
life-long college friend as \\cl\ as a record uf great achie\e- 
nients. After his graduation from Har\ard lie took a tlien- 
logical course, having chosen the ministr\ \ov Iii^ pniles- 
sion, and later l)ccame pastor of the Church uf the I'nity 
in Worcester, where he remained for ten years. Tn iS^i) he 
returned to Boston and assumed the pastorate ni the Suuth 
Congregational Cliurch and remained in that position until 
his death. 

He became eminent as a preacher and "\\as also a ynlu- 
minous writer, \vriting many books, and some ut his 
stories, notaliU' 'The Man without a Country.' have become 
classics." Dr. Hale was a sympathetic, broad-minded man, 
and active in nian\- organizations for the uplift of human- 
ity, and his death was deeply nionmed by the entire com- 
mnnitv. He was chajilain of the Cnited State- Senate at 
the time of his death. 




/'('I-. Eihi-diil Everett Hale, U. U. 




<l<or;,e E. Mr\,ill. UnslmiS (h.nt l.a},nr Itrjor 



(georgt C. jHt^ciU 

"George E. .McXcill was l)oni in the town of Ainesbury, 
Mass., on August 4, 1837, and died at Sonierville, May 19, 
1906. At an early age Mr. McNeill was imbued with a strong 
love of liberty ; a hatred of oppression of every sort, and with 
an earnest desire to aid in the bettering of the down-trodden. 
It would be impossible, in the space allotted to this brief 
sketch, to even enumerate the many reform movements in 
which Mr. AIcNeill took an active part. He was a broad- 
minded, manv-sided man. whose advice and counsel was 
sought by men in various walkv of life. Insurance jicoiile 
looked to him as an insurance man whose principle of jus- 
tice and equity was the ruling feature of his career. Laborers 
and working men looked to him as a friend in time of need. 
The weak, when oppressed by the strong, came to him for 
protection, and never came in \ain. His voice and pen were 
alwavs ready to protect the 0])])ressed against the o])|)ressor, 
not only at home but in foreign lands. 

Tlie carlv life of George E. McNeill was one of toil and 
trial. In his pocket there was poverty at the start, which he 
later, through frugality, turned into plenty for his moderate 
desires. Tn his heart there was always a riotous wealth of 
riches, which he never s([uandered, never even lessened : in- 
deed, while he was prodigal in the use of the graces which 
his heart alwavs possessed, so ajit was he in finding good in 
evervthing and everybody, that he was ever accumulating, 
while always dispensing, goodness. At the age of ten he 1)C- 
gan to work in a woolen mill in his native town of .\meslniry. 
.Afterwards he worked in a shoemaker's shop mornings, nights, 
Saturdavs and holidays, attending school between times, and 
graduating from the grammar school of .\mesbury. For the 
work he did in the shoemaker's shop, he received a kit of 
shoemaker's tools. When about twenty years of age, young 
"McNeill came to Boston and obtained employment as mailing 
clerk in a newspaper office. ,\t ribont this time, he began 
writing for newspapers on political .•md labor subjects. He 
had a deep sympathv for the working men. He felt the in- 
justice of long hours of labor with no chance for advance- 
ment, and was continuallv interested in the shortening of the 
hours of labor, so that the working people would have an op- 
portunitv for moral and intellectu.al advancement. He found- 

4-11 



442 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

ed a ijTc'at many labor orijaiiizations of one sort and another, 
and was really, as he has often been called, the "father of the 
eisht-honr aw,"' for which he liegan work in Governor Claf- 
lin's administration. He was the editor of the "Labor Move- 
ment — the Problem of Today,'" which is acknowledged as 
one nf the text books of the labor movement. ^Ir. McNeill 
was a member nf many commissions appointed by the I-egis- 
lature and riovernor of Massachusetts, having to do with labor 
and tax laws. As a public speaker, he was fluent, forceful 
and eminently persuasive. When thoroughly aroused, he 
possessed a native eloquence which was irresistible. He ad- 
dressed public meetings all over the country in behalf of bet- 
ter labor laws. Some years ago he went to Washington to 
address a public meeting, and was escorted from the railroad 
station to the ])lacc of speaking by over ten thousand labor- 
ing men and nine bands of music. At one time when he spoke 
in Chicago, 13,000 laboring men came to hear him. His repu- 
tation had become international bv this time. His positive 
convictions, his persistent energy, made him a figure which 
could not be overlooked. In all affairs he was sagacious, pru- 
dent and honorable. AFr. IMcXeiirs interest in safeguarding 
laboring men and women from accidents, his desire to establish 
ways and means for the pre\-ention of accidents, probablv led 
him to establisli in iR8,^, the accident insurance company, now 
known as the Massachusetts .\ccident Company, of which he 
was manager up to the time of his death. His conception of 
the responsibility of those conducting the insurance business 
is manifested in the following extract from the last article 
ever ]ienned by his hand: 

"The insurance business in all its branches is more than a 
commercial enterprise. It is primarily an institution for the re- 
lief of humanity in times of distress: it holds its protecting 
'-hield ()\er the widow and orphan; it soothes the mental an- 
tjuish on the bed of (lain : it gives courage to those weakened 
by disaster: it encourages and expresses svmpathv : it is 
Christian in that it cares for the disabled ones: it lessens some 
of the burdens at life by a system of distribution of loss. 
\\ hoe\er forjjets these primary purposes of insurance is guiltv 
not only of self debasetnent, but of the debasement of his 
associates." 

Mr. G. Leonard McXeill. for many years its most efficient 
secr<-t;iry, is now the president of the Arassachusetts .\ccident 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 443 

Company and is "a most worthy son of a noble sire." The 
Rev. Frank O. Hall, who delivered Mr. McNeiirs euolgy, truly 
said, that he was a man "who by his loving, helpful life and 
the sweetness and simplicity of his character, and the keen- 
ness of his thou,ght, proved himself worthy both of respect and 
affection. It is impossible to estimate how much he did for 
the advancement of the common i>eople, and although his 
energy and his work acconi])lished much, the influence of his 
character and of his personality accomplished more. No man 
could stand for long in the presence of Mr. McNeill, or look 
into his wonderful face without being struck by the fact that 
he was a remarkable man. One instantly recognized that he 
was a man of character, and that in him he had found a 
friend" At the Convention of the Tnterntional Association of 
Accident Underwriters, held at Frontenac, Thousand Islands, 
in July. 1007, Mr. Max Cohen of Wa.shington. D. C. sug- 
gested the propriety of the association commemorating the 
services of the late George F. McNeill, and at the same time 
expressing its appreciation of acts of heroism in annually 
awarding one, or more medals. The suggestion met wnth in- 
stant approval and was referred to the Executive Committee. 
A desi.ijn prepared by Tiffany iS: Co. was accepted and it was 
voted to award from one to three medals annually. Several 
of these ^Medals have already been awarded with appropriate 
exercises. 

Mr. AfcNeill was a poet of fine imagination, and a few years 
before his death published a little volume of poems. One of 
them he sent to many of his friends on the Christmas preced- 
ing his death and is especially tender and beautiful. 
"Would we but follow where the Christ star leads. 
Through deserts wide of povertv and want. 
Through swamps of sin and over rocks of pride. 
To humble mangers where the poor are housed — 
Then in our souls exultingly would sound 
The I'hristmas song of 'pe.'ice. grind will t(i man.' 

Our .gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, we lay 

.\t the dear feet of Him. who came to save. 

Follow ye, the Master, in word and deed, — 

Lift up the fallen, welcome the straying, 

.'^oothe the disconsolate with ho])c and cheer — 

Welcome, then, Christmas song 'Peace and .good will 1' " 



tlTrmpIc place 

In >.tiitl_\ing tlK' ■;in\\ih iif I'.ostuii. il will ]>v foun.l that 
imt a few of tin,- biisiiK's.s streets <if tixlay were originally, 
narrow alleys. In I70<S, 'I'eniple I'lace was known as "TinMi- 
again Alley" and for a hundred }ears it reniainetl ol.)scin"e 
and neglected. The only Carriage entrance was from Tre- 
niont Street. reopK- coming from Tremont Street descend- 
eil a rtiglit of wooden steps to reach Washington Street. All 
this was changed in i8_^(), when the .Masonic Temple was 
erected on tlie site now occupied In- the store of R. H. 
Stearns & Co. .Vfter that it was lined with handsome resi- 
dences occupied by tlie mo>t aristocratic families in I'.oston. 
( )ne of the prominent of these was the lion. Thonias 11. 
I'erkins. one of the most ])ublic spirited and generous citi- 
quite an amusing episode and Sheriff Greenleaf and Colonel 
tate on I'earl Street, which he gave for a I'.lind Asylum 
wlien it was |)rop<iseil to stai't an Institution for the care and 
eilucaticiu of these unfortun.ates. This institution, \vhicli to- 
day is of national and wurldwide reputation, still hears his 
honored name. He erected on Temple Place one of the 
jfinest dwelling houses in llostiju. "The large front door 
was m.ide of wood from the frigate Constitution." The ele- 
gant house is now occupied hv the Pro\-ident Saxings Insti- 
tution, and various linsiness offices. \\'e have elsewhere 
alluded to the Washington ( iardeiis. that f.-inious place of 
re-^ort foi- old time llostonians. Thev v.ei'c locate. I on the 
southern Corner of Tremont Street and Temple I'l.ice. In 
l\e\ olutionarv days, the house of Stejihen ( iveculcaf, the 
SheritT of Suffolk Countv. stood there. 

lie \\,is a stanch lo\alist. ;ind with his friends, the Royal 
(Tixernor and I'.riti'-h otTuers, was badly w<irsted, when he 
came into collision with some citizens of V,' -~ton in i^dX, in 
the d.iys of the Stamp .\ct. 

In an effort to forcibly enter and take ])ossession of a large 
hou■^e occupied bv manv tenants, Creenleif and his aids, 
were trapped into a cellar and there confined until relieved 
b\- a file of I'.ritish soldiers from the Common. It -."as 
(|uite an amusing epi-ode and Sheriff Greeleaf a'Ki (""oloiiel 
Dalrvniple. became tlie laughing stock of the town. ;ind ,ill 
the more cnjoAable was it to the citizens, becaus.' Colonel 
l);dr\iii|de \\as a most haughty ,ind o\erbearing man. .Much 

4 44 



I Talks and Talks Aluntt Historic Bost.ni. AA? 

to his reii'ret, ho. ami his rci;iniL-iU wi-rc onU'rcd to L'astlc 
William ( I'ort 1 luk'pcndence) by Governor 1 lutiMiiiis.on, In 
response to tlu- denianils of the citizens of lioston, led hv 
Samuel Adams. The hnildint;' where Greenlcaf and hi.s 
friends were rnntined was the .ManiifacturiniL;' House, which 
stood on Hamilton L'lace and was torn down in i.Soj. The 
honse of Greenleaf's wa.s torn di>wn .and a liloek hiiilt ■ .n 
Tremont Street to West Street and th.it portion of Tremont 
Street was known as "('.ape ( dd Knw." 








In those days the lar.<;e hall of the .Masuinc I'.nild- 
in;; was used for concerts, being well adapted for the pur- 
pose as it was centrally located and had excellcni aeoustii- 
properties, and many celebrated musicians were heard there. 
The cut represents Temple Place in 1865 at the close of the 
Civil War, before it had become such a business centre. 
W inter Street and Temple l'lace, for their leiij;th, are two 
of the busiest streets in Boston. The tide of travel throii,i;ii 
these streets .surges daily in an almost irresistible and 
ceaseless flow. "It is surprising how in one generation the 
encroacliments of trade ha\e drawn every family from Tre- 
mont Street, extending from Court Street to Boylston Street," 
a street that was once occu])ied by wealthy residents. 




ClHuhx lllll/nirh. \nlnhrl „j I In Sinir lli> 



i^arKrr'G E^rstaiirant ant) tifc parKrr l^ouGc 

Mr. Harvey D. Parker was born in Temple. Elaine, "Slay 
lo, 1805. He came of good old English stock, being descended 
from Thomas Parker, who came to America in 1636. This 
pioneer Parker was one of the incorporators of the town 
of Reading, when it was cut off from Lynn. When Harvey 
D. Parker was quite a lad, the family moved from Temple to 
Paris, Elaine, and here he "mowed and hoed and held the 
plough" until he was 20 years of age. Then, with a stout 
heart and $4.00 in his pocket, he started on foot for Boston 
to carve out his fortune. He soon found employment, and for 
eight years he led a busy life in the great city, living pru- 
dentlv, carefully guarding his surplus earnings, that he inight 
carry out the cherished desire of his heart, that of "providing 
people with necessary facilities for eating well." At twenty- 
eight years of age he commenced his famous career as a res- 
taurateur in a basement. No. 4 Court Square, corner of Court 
."street. A portion of Young's Hotel now covers the spot. It 
was a small room, rather low and dark, and by no means at- 
tractive, but the quality of the iood was most excellent and 
the jirices very reasonai)le. This he named "Parker's Restau- 
rant." He seemed to understand just what kind of food the 
peo])le wanted and just how they liked to have it cooked. Ar- 
rayed in white apron, he ])ersonally served his customers, and 
he aimed to make the service in his restaurant, and later in the 
hotel, as near perfect as possible. His fame spread through- 
out the city and even far beyond the city limits. His patron- 
age grew constantly and "Parker's Restaurant" became the 
best patronizeil and must popular dining room in Boston. 

.An old Bill of Tvire, a relic of that good old restaurant, is 
an interesting study for epicures. For 12 1-2 cents one could 
get fresh eggs, boiled, fried or scrambled, or a lobster salad, 
or a welsh rarebit. Soups were 12 1-2 cents, with the excep- 
tion of green turtle, which was 37 1-2 cents. Fried cod. perch 
or mackerel was 25 cents, l-'or 37 1-2 cents one could have 
an order of boiled halibut, broiled mutton, corned beef, roast 
chicken, beef, pig. lamb, or green goose, with ;i variety of 

447 



44S 



JJ'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



\cj4ct;ibles. Lobsters were cheap in those da\-.s, and were fresh 
from the lobster pots of Boston Harbor. A generous order of 
plain, or salad for 23 cents, Init a 12 1-2 cent order would sat- 
isfy an ordinary a]>petite. A clmice tenderloin steak, with nice 
bread and Inittcr. and \eu;elablcs was 37 1-2 cents. Oysters 




/•»//,. , 



//' 



nnstoil 



were high in tlidse d.ays, being 37 1-2 cents a dozen on the half 
shell. ( )n the back of this old bill of fare. Air. Parker informs 
his patrons who pay by the week that they "can order only 
from the dishes already cooked, and that each dish includes 
vegetables, etc." This fractional currency was made possible 
!)>■ the Siianish silver coins then in circulation, such as "four 
]u-ncc b.-r ])enny" or (> i -4 cent-', and nine ]ience, 12 1-2 cents. 



IP'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. AA'> 

A quarter of a dnUar anil a "nine ])ence ", or three nine peaces, 
would amount to ^/ 1-2 cents. 

Mr. John A. Reniick, who was a regular patron, writing 
concerning- it says: "Parker's estabhshment was alwaxs fur- 
nished with an outfit of solid silver ware, till the Civil War 
advanced the price of silver nearly three fold, when he sold 
all his silver at a handsome profit, and ever after used the best 
plated ware." Mr. Parker remained in his original location 
several years, but his business had outgrown the room and 
he must have larger <|uarters tu accommodate his patrons. 
So he began looking aroiuid for a location, and chose the 
Bo^'lston Estate on School Street and "in 1854 built a large 
building that was l)oih a hotel and a restaurant, and called it 
the Parker House. This was the first attempt made in Boston 
to conduct a hotel, without a fixed hour for meals, and it met 
with immediate success." The Parker House became as pop- 
ular as the Restaurant, and four years later he was obliged 
to double the size of the house, and in two years that was 
crowded. The fame of the Parker House is world wide and 
its founder was a leader in the .'\merican hotel business, and a 
thorough master in all the details of a hotel. He was the in- 
ventor of the so-called '.\merican plan where everything is 
provided in the cost of a day.' He was quick to perceive, 
prompt to act, and he had sound judgment." During the 
war certain well known military commanders were always 
welcome guests at the Parker House without charge, the pres- 
tige of their presence having been regarded as an advertise- 
ment that much more than compensated for what they ate or 
drank. This same custom was followed by his successor, J. 
Reed Whipple, who entertained President McKinley in most 
royal manner at the Hotel Touraine on the occasion of his 
last visit to Boston. 

.After years of watchful waiting the Parker House secured 
the lot on the corner of School and Tremont Streets and 
erected a beautiful building on its site, as an addition to the 
hotel. 




'^iw^$ 



I'.nsluil Clixliii,, II,, US'. ISjII 




M,i,k,t. |N40 



illusiiral JfrStiUals 

The decade folknvinji- the Civil War was marked by two 
great events which substantiated the claim of ISoston as the 
great musical center of the country. In 1869, under the di- 
rection of that great organizer and musician. Patick S. Ciil- 
niore, was held the 

NATION AT. PEACE JUBILEE 

Application was made for the use of the Common on 
which to erect a temporary Peace Jubilee Building, or Coli- 
seum, Init as strong o]jp<)sition was made to it, it was de- 
cideil to Iniild it in the Back Bay. The Coliseum occupied 
part of the site where Trinity Church now stands, and ex- 
tended to the lot of the old Art Museum. 

A recent writer in the Boston Post says: "The Coliseum 
was a stupendous enterprise for a city the size of Boston 
in 1869, a city still suffering frcmi the incalculable losses of 
the Civil War. When filled, the great wooden building 
held 50,000 people, and was the largest structure in the 
country. But the mere size is ncjt so astounding as the fact 
that the building was Cdustructed, solely, for a musical fes- 
ti\al tci last Init ti\e days, ^'et so musically mad were the 
public, that the receipts for the fi\e days, not onlv paid the 
expenses, which ;imounte(l to o\-fr a quarter of a million 
dollars, but yielded a profit of $10,000. 

The peace jubilee was carried to a successful conclusion 
by the enthusiastic determination of Patrick S. Gilmore, a 
popular bandmaster, who refused to be defeated by rebuffs 
or scoffing. lie was fortunate in securing the alliance of 
manv public 'Spirited business men, who continued to |)our 
mone^' into the treasur\-, when it seemed as though the 
gigantic enterprise was doomed to absolute failure.'" 

The Festival was held June i-i<), i86(). We know of no 
excitement of recent }-ears that can begin to compare with 
that which raged in and about the Coliseum during those 
five davs. In the audience were peojile from every State 
in the Union, and there was the wihle^t .'iiiplause .lUil en- 
thusiasm after everv .-.election. 

451 



45- Walks and Talks Abotit Historic Boston. 

Many Bostonians now li\ing wert in that audience day 
after day as members of that chorus of 10,000 voices, and 
to their dying day will never forget the wonderful scenes 
which they witnessed there. The great musical artists, Ole 
Bull and Carl Rosa, were first violinists to the orchestra 
of 1000 pieces, and the two greatest singers of the day, 
Parepa-Rosa and Adelaide Phillips, leaders of the great 
chorus. 

When the closing strains of "'J'he ."^tar Spangled r.an- 




77,r Colisrin, 



ner" and "America" were sung, bells all over the city were 
rung, and the guns of a battery near the Coliseum were 
booming. When the '".Anvil Churns" was "iven, looo red- 



coated firemen 
anvils. 

Xearly e\(iy\ 
Many distinguishe 
President Grant an 
manv that such a v 



ave the rcsdumlin'. 



:lant 



on 



manv 



eat was occupied at every performance. 

led quests were present, among them 

ind Admiral harragut. It was thought by 

'unu- of siiund wnuld be deafening, but 



iValks ciiid Talks About Historic Boston. 45.1 

such was not the fact, the great orchestra and the tremen- 
dous chorus kept excellent time, and the whole effect was 
most pleasing. 

The whole undertaking- was a remarkable success, and 
as we have alreadv said, excited the most unrestrained en- 
thusiasm both on account of its musical features and its 
patriotic tendency. 

The year 1872 was also an eventful year in the same line. 
From fime 17th to July 7th the second grand 

Ml".^K AL FK.^TI\'AL 

was held and attended by 30,000 to 100,000 people daily. 
It was held in a temporary Coliseum of vast size, and spe- 
cial national musical features were introduced by bands 
from England, France, Germany and other countries. 

lohann Strauss led the orchestra, while it played his own 
waltzes, among others, the "Beautiful Blue Danube." 

In connection with the Festival, a grand ball was given 
and General U. S. Grant was present. .Athough the Festi- 
val was a grand success from a musical point of view fully 
equalling the peace jubilee of iS(k-). it was not remunerative, 
financially, to the projectors and shareholders. 



'<If)C 2Dlti fe»outf) Cfjtircf) 

The rirst edifice of llie Ulil South Society was erected in 
1669 O'l tli^ corner of Washington and Milk Streets. This 
site was originally the garden of Governor Winthrop, ad- 
joining his hciuse which stood on Washington Street di- 
rectly opposite ScIkkjI Street. The Ihurch worshipped in 
the (lid wooden huilding initil 1720. when that was taken 
down and the present lirick structure was erected. There 
are more historical traditirins and associations centered in 
that old brick house of worship than in an\- other church 
huilding in America. If l-'aneuil Hall is the "Cradle of 
I,il">ert\."' the ( Hd Soutli may well he called the "Sanctuary 
of Freedom."" 

Tahlet. 

DLL) Sol'TM .Ml-.KTlXi; ITOL'SE 

( )n this site was huilt .\. 1).. 1O70. in the garden originalU 
granted to John Winthrop. the first .Meeting House of the 
Third or South Church, in which Benjamin Franklin was 
baptized on the day of his birth, januarv 17th, 1706. 
The |)resent structure was built in 1720. 
Here were held man\ of tlie Town .Meetings from 1761 
to 1775. 

Here ( )tis, .\dams. Hancock and Wanen helped to mould 
])ublic <ipini( m. 

Here on March d, 1770. after the Boston Massacre, by 
unanimous \ote the Town People demanded the removal of 
the King's Regiments. 
December 1(1. I77,v was held the meeting which preceded the 

Destruction of the Tea. 
Jlere were delivered from 1771 to 1775 the Annual ( )rations 

P>\ Lowell, Warren. Church and Hancock, 

which ke]it the memor\- of the Alassacre fresh in the minds 

of the pe<.iide. 

riiis Building is a Landmark 

When l-'aneuil Mall could not contain the crowrj of lilierty 
lo\ing .\mericans, the\ adjourned to the (Jld South Meeting 
4.') 4 



IVaU's ami Talks .Ihoiil llislnnr luistuji. 455 

Hoiisc. It ^laiicK by the ^idc of ( )1(1 ImihuiI ll:ill as a forum 
of free speech, llere was uttered the |)rayer, the efficiency 
of which piety and faith do not (hnibt, for tlie deliverance of 
New Ens^Iand from the formiilalile hVench Armada that 
threatened its destruction in 1746. in the old |iul]iit ^ucli 
great divines as 'I'hatciier. W'illard, Sewall. I'rince. iiunt- 




ington. Wc-ner. I'.la^den and Alannins;. iiave stood and 
preached the Word of (iod. and 1)\ tlieir lives illustrated the 
sincerity of their preaching. That .i;reat apostle of Chris- 
tianitv, ( leor-c \\ hitelield. preached in its pulpit. Benjamin 
I'Vanklin, who was h<irn directly opixisite the church, was 
baptized at its feint, and worshipped in this cliurch during his 



45'' ll'alks and Talks About Ristoric Boston. 

residence in Boston. Its wails lia\c resounded witli denun- 
ciations of Britisli tyrann\, and uitli stirring appeals ti> 
patriotic action by such leaders as Samuel Adams, John 
Hancock, Josiah Quincy, W'm. Molineaux and Dr. Joseph 
Warren. As one writer has said, "The great Town Meetings 
in the Old South Meeting HiDuse proved more than a match 
for the British Parliament. Here Otis, 'that flame of fire,' 
protested against the iinprisi mnient of seamen and other <ip- 
]iressive measures (if the nintluT cnuntry." ( )n the i'"ifth 
of March, 1775, the t<iurth anniversary of the Uristnn 
Massacre. Dr. Joseph Warren ilelivered a great cnmmeni- 
orate address from its pulpit. There is quite a little histnry 
attached to this e\ent. The da\' came on Sunday, and tin- 
patriots decided to have their celeliration on ^Monday. Tlu're 
was a large force of British soldiers in the town ami more 
on their wa\'. for it was the time of the llostim I'ort Bill. 
There were fortifications everywhere and the citizens were 
treated as residents of a contpiered town. The Governor did 
all he could to crush the spirit of the people, but they were 
adroit and worked in secrt-t. .\n order went forth pro- 
liibiting the calling of town meetings. The ]ieople evaili'<l 
tllis order from time to time so they called no new meeting, 
perplexing the ( ioveruor. who did not dare to take ;i bold 
stand and break up a meeting while in session. When the 
time drew near for this celebratiou of the Fifth of March, 
the rumor went out, "that an\' making an ovation at that 
time, and especiallv auMnie making ati\' reflection upon the 
royal famih', was liable to arrest and ca|)ital pmiishment." 
This threat failed to frighten the patriots, who selected as 
the orator of the occasion that br.ave an<l gifte<l leader. Dr. 
Joseph Warren. On Mond.-n morning the peo|:)le met at 
Faneuil Hall, where tlu'\ had \(ited to have the oration, but 
the crowd was so great they ailjonrned to the ( )ld South. 
Dr. Warren was then living on Hanover Street, where the 
American House now is, and a committee waited on him 
asking him to gi\-e the oratiou at half past eleven that 
morning. 

behind the judpit in the ( lid South were the leaders of 
the peojile, readv to act as a bod\ guard to Dr. \\^arren 
should there be an outbreak on the part of the British 
soldierv. Forty of these British red coats were present, 
sitting in front of the iwlpit and on the steps. They were 
gi\en this |ironiinent ])osition b\' S;iimu-1 .\dams, the leader 



H'alks and Talks About llisturic Boston. 43" 

of the day, and it was a sta.^e setting worth}' cif a master in 
the theatrical art. Adams knew that they had threatened 
to break up the meeting, so with great politeness he placed 
them where they could be closely watched b\' the audience 
and every movement noted. Meanwhile the church was 
packed to its utmost capacity. At last Warren arri\cd, and 
having arrayed himself in the gown worn by orators of that 
time, he started to enter the church. 1)ut so great was the 
crowd around the entrance it \\as impossible to scjueeze 
through without causing a disturbance, which might have 
provetl disastrous, so delicate was the situation. Some of 
liis friends procured a ladder and by means of it he entered 
an open window back of the ])idpit. and in a moment more 
he was facing his audience, it was a spirited and courageous 
speech, in which lie bol(ll\ defended the citizens of lloston 
from the charge of rebellion — they only asked their rights 
as British freemen. -\s he was talking the Rritisli soliHers 
coughed and hennned and tried to interrupt him by all 
sorts of noises, but he kept on. One historian describing the 
scene, says: "While he \va^ s])caking and exhorting tbr 
jieople tcj stand fast In tlieii' colors, a yoimg ofhcei- wbd was 
upon the pulpit stairs, took a handful of Inillets out of his 
pocket, and held them up for the oratui- and anybody else 
to see. It was as much as to say, 'Talk as much as you 
please: we have these, and they will say the last word.' 
Warren saw him: he merely dropped his handkerchief upon 
the bullets and covered them with it. and went on with his 
oration." ( )nl\ a few weeks later this great and gallant 
man laid down his life at the i'.attle of Bunker Hill. On 
that memorable night, December l(), 1773. a large audience 
had gathered in the ( )Id ."^outh to hear the report of the 
connnittee appointed to interview the Consignees of the tea 
of the East India Comi)an\. 'i'lie report was adverse to the 
patriotic demands. It was then that Samuel Adams arose 
and uttered those fateful woi'ds: "1"his meeting can do 
nothing more to save the countr\ ." Immediately the war 
whoop sounded at the cluu-cli doDrs. and a band of men <lis- 
guised as Indians, made a bee line for Griffin's Wharf, fol- 
lowed by a large portion nf the .-mdience. and the Boston 
Tea Partv was that night written in the nnals of .\merican 
history. 

During the occupatinn nf Bustun b\ the I'.ritish in 177^ 
and 1776. they desecrated the sacred edifice by using it as 



458 ll'atLw mill Talks About Historic Boston. 

a Riding School and the}- '-rt up a bar within its walls for 
the sale of intoxicating li(|uors. 'riu-v destroyed the val- 
uable library of the pastor, using the books to kindle their 
fires with. Standing next to the church was the c)ld frame 
house of ( iovernor Winthri.ip. This they tore down and 
used the material for fuel. h'r"in the siile entrance on Milk 
Street the\ ran nut a long ]iole and over tliis the P>ritish 
cavalr\-men leaped their hnrses. In 178J the church was 
retitted for public worshi]). In .\ugust. iS'>3. the yard of 
the church was used a> nne of tlie recruiting stations for 
volunteers in the I'nion Arm\-. .\ tent, for enlistments in 
the I'orty-fifth .Massachusetts Regiment, was set up in tlie 
yard, where is now the entrance to the subwa\. The sur- 
geon had his (|uarters in the tower, where he made the 
]iliysical examinatii m of reciniits. 

The active |ia>tiir of the church during the I'ivil War \vas 
the Rev. lacob Al. Manning, 1). 1).. due <<\ r.ostun's most 
eloipient and patriotic pastni's. .Man\ I'.ostonian--. nnw liv- 
in.g, can recall his timelv and helpful sermons during the 
great struggle, especially those delivered on Fast Days and 
Thanksgiving Davs. It was the writer's jirivilege to hear 
hiiu on several nccasidus, and nni' sermon, especially, made 
a deep imjiression on hi'- mind. It was from the words. 
■'.Spc.-ik unto the Cliildren of Israel that tliey go forward.'" 
It was during that \ ery dark ])erio(l 1 if the Civil War when 
the I'nion cause was meeting with --uch terrilile reverses, and 
a deep gloom spread over tlu- hearts of the loyal Xorth. In 
the li.ght of subserpient events, his words 1 pu that occasion 
sounded prophetic. Throughout his pastorate he sustained 
the patriotic traditions of the Old South. When the Fortv- 
tliird Massachusetts Regiment was recruited he entered that 
regiment and served as its chaplain <luring its term of nine 
months. In the same Military Department, and in the same 
brigade was the Rev. .\ndrew L. .Stone, D. D., of Park 
Street Church, who was the chaplain of the Fort\-fiftli 
Massachusetts Regiment. 

These two reverend gentlemen, jia^tdrs of the leading 
Congregational Chiu'ches in Boston, rendered most effective 
service. They were with the .\rmy on the expedition to 
Goldsborough in December, 1862: a full account of which is 
given bv fohn S. C. .Abbott, the historian, in an article en- 
titled "lleroic Deeds of Heroic Men," published in Harper's 
McinthU .Magazine nf December, 18(14. Thev helped and en- 



/r,//A\v an, I lallcs Ahoul Historic Boston. 459 

cdiiraged the nu-ii cm tlii.' niarcli, assisted the ainluilance 
corps in bearing- off the wounded from the field of Ijattle, and 
ministered to the wounded and d>-ing-. Always earrxiug 
themselves as true Christian gentlemen, they won the love 
and respect of the men. At Kinston, Chaplain Manning had 
the sad privilege of ministering to Elbridge (iraves, of the 
45th Massachusetts Regiment, a member of his own chureli. 
who received his deatii wt.nmd in that battle. It was by rare 
good fortune that this revered ami valuable landmark was 
saved from destructinn in that great lln^tun tire 1 if icSjj. 
How it was saved wa-- tuld \er\ graphically in a r.ostim 
paper, a few _\ ears agd. and I i|Ucite frum it: "It was clue tci 
the efforts of the Kearsarge bjigine (/cimi)any <if Ports- 
mouth, Xew Hampshire. .\t half |iast c.ue that fateful Sun- 
day morning, the captain of the night watch oi Portsmouth, 
received a telegram from Mavoi- Thomas 1{. ( ). Marvin of 
Portsmouth, asking for assistance. .\t five nn'uutes past two 
an alarm was mounded .il J'cirtMnciuth, and a large clctail cif 
tiremen to acccimpan\ the Kearsarge Pngiue. a practi- 
cally new steamei', to I'loslon. .\ large detail was made, as 
it was necessary to di'aw the engine b\ hand, as a horse dis- 
temper was prevailing at tli.it time tlnccughout Xew Fjigland. 
They arrived in P.oston at 4.45 .\. M . .'ind at once iirocceded 
up \\ashington .Street. Not knowing that the call was for 
out of town service, tile men came clressecl in their wcirking 
clcithes, in some cases overalls auci juni]iers. and their nonde- 
script aiH-tearance caused a shout from the crowcl, "Look at 
the Haymakers." The Kearsarge was stalifmed at a Reservoir 
on Court .Square, and a line of hose ran through Cciurt 
Square, City Hall Avenue, School .Street and Washington 
.Street to the Transcri])t lluilding. The steamer played 
through i.ooo feet of hose, and word was gi\en to reach the 
roof of the Old .South, wliicli the steamer Kearsarge cjicj, 
causing a round of cheers from the lloston firemen and citi- 
zens. This extinguished the lilaze on the roof, after several 
other steamers had failed to reach it. .\ftcr the fire the < )ld 
.South was closed as a place cif woi-shi]i and for a short time 
it was occupied as a Post r)fiice. 

The ( )ld South Ccmgregation niovec] into its new and ele- 
gant edifice on the corner of l)artmouth and Pioylston 
.Streets, which is now known as the "Xew Old South." The 
old bell that called so many generations of church goers to 
worship hangs in the tower c if the new edifice. 



460 



H'liIIcs mil! Talks About Historic Boston. 



May the Old South INIeeting- House stand for generations 
yet to come, in the busy mart of trade, an inspiration and an 
object lesson t<.i the Aouth of P.tiston. and of all America! 




.„//, Cln 



r.ni 



In iSjd the old church piciiicrt)' had a high value for busi- 
ness imrpdscs, and ihv church considered the (|ucstion of 
selling it, in which case the building would have been torn 
diiwn, and another great historical landmark wnuld have van- 



IValks and Talks .Ihont Ifisloric Boston. 



461 



ished and have Ijecome only a niL-niory. This alarming pros- 
pect aroused the public spirited citizens of Boston, who pro- 
tested against it, and Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote a stir- 




ring appeal, reminding one of another appeal of his, written 
in his youthful days, when it W'as proposed to destro\ the 
historic frigate, the Constitution. 



"Woe to the threi 
When thronijh th 



hilled tnwn 
l.'ind, the tale i? 



told. 



4*5-' ll'iilhs and Talks About Historic Boston. 

The Ijrave ( )1(1 Scjuth is down. 
Here while his brethren stood aloof 
The Herald's blast was blown; 
That shook St. Stephen's pillared roof 
And rocked Kincf (jcijrge's throne! 
The spire still L;reets the mdrnino- sini. 
Say. shall it stand m- fall? 
Help, ere the spuiler has lirL;un. 
Help each, ami ( iod hel]) all!" 

The help came and sufficient funds were raised to save it 

from destruction. This tine old specimen of Colonial Church 

Architecture still remains with us and fulfills Whittier's 
prophecy : 

■•So loni;- as I'.ostnu shall I'.dston be. 

And lier ba\- tides rise and fall. 

Shall freedom stand in the ( )ld South Church 

.\nd plead for the rights of all!" 

\\'ithiu its walls ma\ now be fuund many articles of p^reat 
interest to the visiting;" strani;er, whose pils'rimasc would 
nut be ciim|)lete imtil he had st< md within its walls, his mind 
review im;- all the memorable scenes that hail been enacted 
there, looking;- up into the L;'aller\- where the majestic form 
of Wa^hinu'tou once stood, and feelin;^- a thi-ill of ]-)atriotisni 
thi'i iUL;"h his w Ik i|e bein^;". 

The ]iresent pastor of the X'ew ( >ld South Church. Rev. 
( ieori;e A. (iordon. D. IX. has shown himself to be especially 
adajiteil to thi-- lield of lalior, .and every Sabbath the lar.ce 
audience room is well tilled to hear his plain and powerful 
i)o_:iehini:;-. and his labors ha\e been very successful in win- 
niu'; the attention of thoui;hlful men and women and of the 
\ounq- ]ieo]>le rif this city. 

Dr. Corflon is possessed of ;i cle.ar and logical mind, with 
c;re;it ]iowers of arijumenfation, .ind is |ierfectly fearless in his 
enunciation of what he concci\es to be the truth, and he oc- 
cupies a foremost position amoni;' the ]ireachers of P>oston. 




///, Cil-il II III. 



Park Sitrrct Cf)iirclj 

This churoli edifice is in the heart of the down town dis- 
trict of Boston, on what is known to Bostonians of fifty years 
or more ago, as "Brimstone Corner." It stands on the site 
of the "Old Granary," of Colonial and Revolutionary days. 
In that "Old Granarv" were made the sails of the famous 
frigate "Constitution." The Park Street Church edifice is one 
of the most heautiful and symmetrical specimens of New 
England Church architecture of earlier days. Its location is 
most commanding and for over one hundred years it has 
stood as one of the great landmarks of Boston. Under its 
shadow many thousands of people pass daily as they enter 
or emerge from the suhway station directly opposite on the 
Common. l"or many years the building was painted all uni- 
form in color, as were many other venerable buildings in the 
city, Init recently it has lieen restored to its original appear- 
ance, and the result of the architect's work has been most 
pleasing. "I'he color and texture of the old brick work is 
remarkably fine and mellow." An architect, speaking of the 
restoration says : "The feature has been the vividness with 
which the return of the walls to brick red, has thrown the 
fine detail of the building into prominence. When it was 
painted all imiform in color, one missed the deftness with 
which the windows were placed in slightly recessed arches, 
and the pillars and eniblaturcs were made to outline the two 
bays to right and left of the tower. Now these parts of the 
design are restored to their original values, and the building 
seems to have a grace and dignity which are entirely new to 
beholders of this generation." 

The Park Street Church was organized in i8og. Xine 
members of the "Old South." which was then the only Evan- 
gelical Congregational Church in Boston, came out from the 
parent church, under the promptings of a revival meeting. 
It was begotten in a revi\-al and has enjoyed many in its 
history. The church edifice was erected in 1810. The church 
has had a long line of able and distinguished men as pastors, 
among them K. D. driffin. S. E. Dwight, Edward Beecher, 

4114 



Walks and lalks .llunil llistunc Boston. 4i'5 

If. IJiulsIey, Silas \ikcn. A. I.. Slonc. W. II. IT. Murray, J. \.. 
W'i throw and Dr. (^rcs;,£^. Tlie present pastor. Rev. Dr. A. Z. 
Conrad, is a very able preacher and one of the leaders in the 
denoniination in New England. He is an earnest and devoted 
pastor and in full accord with all reforms for the uplifting 
and benefitting humanity. Perhaps the Rev. Dr, A. I,. Stone 
was the most widely known in the list of her pastors. He 
occupied the pulpit during the period of the Civil War. He 
was extremely patriotic, a most fluent and eloquent speaker, 
and exerted a .ijreat influence in Pioston. especially among the 
young men. During his pastorate, he obtained leave of ab- 
sence from tlie church and served as chaplain of the Forty- 
Fifth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, in its 
campaign in Xorth Carolina. The Park Street Church has 
been the mother of several churches and has always been 
noted for its zeal in nn'ssionary enterprises. Its donations to 
foreign missions for a long period of years amounted to 
$4000 annually, and frequently exceeded that amount. It has 
a fine and capacious audience room, and here anti-slavery 
agitators, temperance reformers and other pleaders for good 
and charitalile oI)iect^, h.ivc g.ilhcred and proclaimed their 
views without let or hindr;mce. Tt has been a forum, in many 
respects like the "Old South" nl' caily days, for the inaugura- 
tion and encouragement of gre.it inriwments. It was one of 
the first places of public worshi]) that opened its doors to 
William Lloyd (larrison, in those early davs of the anti- 
slavery struggle, at the very time when that great reformer 
was mobbed and dra.g.ged through the streets of Boston, with 
a rope around his neck and his life in imminent peril, at the 
hands nf a howling, infm-iated mob. It was at a cliililren's 
celebration held in I 'ark Street Church, July 4th, 1S32, that 
our national hymn, ".\merica." written by Rev. Dr. Samuel 
F. Smith, was first sung. We have alluded to the service of 
Rev. ,\. L. Stone, as chaplain, in the 45th Massachusetts 
Regiment during the Civil War. .\fter that service he gave 
a very interesting address on "War, the Romance and the 
Peality. ' The closing sentences of that address are remark- 
ably fine and elo(|uent, showing the beauty of his rhetoric and 
are eminently worthy of preservation. He said: "My own 
laith in the victorious issue of our cause never for a moment 
faltered. I never believed that ( iod jnit the fate of this great 
nation into the hands of rebels, nor that instead of a broad, 
free republic, he meant to rear here on the ruins of the Re- 



4'''| Walks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

public and the neck of the African, a coUinin of despotism. 
When the war broke out there stood on Shackelford Island, 
lift the coast of Xorth Carolina in the midst of a thinlv scat- 
tered and disloyal population, a tall i\ag pole on which, before 
the days of treason, the Stars and Stripes had been f;iven to 
the breeze. ( )f course the sacred banner was torn down and 
the new ensign fluttered in its place, lint the pole was sur- 
mounted by a carved and L;il<led eaule. That was too national 
an emblem to be suffered to remain. .\n e.xpert climber 
readied it and brous^ht it ilnwn. and it was is^nominiouslv 
liuried in the ground. .Scarce was the ceremony ended, when 
there was heard the rush nf Idrdlv wings, and a live eagle 
came sailing o\er and alighted on the desolate staff. 'J'he 
marksmen brought out their ritle> and bullet after bullet was 
sent aloft at the kingly \isitant. I'.ut he only ])lunied his 
wings in conteni]jt. or rose a few feet into the air. and then 
<lehnantly resumed his [)ercli. until the riflemen, with reason 
superstitious, forbore to fire. Then the royal bird spread his 
])inions a.gain and rose in slow gyrations to the to])most bough 
of a monarch pine near by. a hundred feet higher in the air 
than his gilded counterfeit had shone. So shall it be with 
our own eagle of empire ,ind destinv. Its s\nibols mav be 
<lesecrated and profaneil. Itself m;iy lie the target of treason's 
min-<lerous aims. I^.ut out of the tumult and riut of the smoke 
of unnatural war it shall soar unharmed, w ith a broader sweeji 
anil to a lordlier height in the serene blue of he.aveii." 

Like a little green \;dle\' surrijunded Iiv high hills is the 
"( )ld ( iranary Hurymg i iround." It .adjoins the church 
building and extends along Tremont ."Street, nortlu-rh to the 
Tremont Ruilding. I lere lie buried nian\- great and mighty 
men of the past. Men. who counted not their lives dear to 
them if they might save this C(juntry to freedom and pass it 
down, a priceless heritage to coming generations. 

I lere are the graves of John Hancock, Samuel .\dauis and 
Robert Treat Paine, three siguers of the Declaration of In- 
dependence: Paul Re\-ere. the hero of the midnight ride; John 
Phillips, the first Mayor of I'.oston and the father of Wendell 
I'hillips; Richard llellingham. William 1 )ununer, James 
Sullixan. Christopher ( iorc. James llownian and Increase 
Sumner. ;dl ( iovernors of .M.issachusetts ; Thomas ( ushing. 
I .ieutenant-CiOvernor ; S.anuiel Scwall. Chief Justice of .Mas- 
s.ichusc'tts ; John I'.aily. Samuel W'illanl, Jerenn I'.elkn.ap ,ind 
lohn L.ithrop. .Ministers of the town of lloston. 



'JIgr StiptiGtS in BoGton 

The First Baptist Church. 

It is e\idfiit that theic wire a lew I '.apti-^l-- in cail\ ila_\s 
in the i!a_v Cnlony. lor tlic I'nritan Icailrr- ti n ik (.-xticnu: 
measures to stamp out the ■'luresx ," a> the\ termed it. I'lie 
I'nritan idea was a theoerae\ . modelled after the aueieut 
je\\i>h order, in whuli the .'^tate >liould he ahsorlied m tile 
Chureli. Reli^iou^ uUoIeranoe ilro\e main' eif them fr< mi 
the mother eountr\ . and ■-o, in after lauilmi.; on tlie--e chores 
they set u]i a little hierarelu of tjnii- own. 

They dro\e Ro^er W illiani^. the r.ai>ti^l, into exile. They 
deposed llenry 1 )un--ter, the r.apti--t. from the |irest(Kue\ 
(it llarxard (,.'olIe;;e. The\ iiii|iri>oiied Thomas ( lonld a 
man of spotless eliaraeter, the first pastor of the iMr^t I'.ap- 
ti>t ( hureh. and the MilTerini;s he there endured lirouL;hl 
.ahout his earl\ death. The l.el<i\ed \<ry. |..hn ( darke, a 
Haptist, an eminent seholar, >tatesni,in and di\ ine. was 
seized li\ the I'nritan maL;istrates, while in the disehari^e 
of his pastoral duties, was imprisoueil in a I'loston jail and 
tilled tldrty |iounds for pre.iehiiiL; the L;os|)id. .Mr. ()lia<Iiah 
Holmes, a prominent I'.aptist. was tiued thirt\ ]ionnd.s. I\e- 
fusiu;,^ to pa\' the s,-|iue. he was im]>risoned for two months, 
and, after a ])ra\cr UKetiiiL;. taken (juI and pnhlitdv 
whipped. In l(i(>3, the hirst I'.aptist ('hureh was fornu-il 
\er\- (piietly. holding; their nu'etiu^s seeretK. after the 
manner of the h'.arly ( hiistiaiis in the ila\ s of the Roman 
])erseeution. hour men were lia]>ti/ed anil joined the 
churell the first da} of its history. h'.\er\ one of these four 
men suftered severeK, heeaiise of their faith, .at the hands 
of the I'nritan authorities. In l(.<iS, the (ireat .and ( ieneral 
Court of .Massaehnsetts was so ani.;r\ at the l)ra\er\ and 
steadfastness of these ILajUisls that they issued .an e(iiet of 
l)anishmeiit .a^.iiiisi e.aeh auil e\er\ oiie of them, hut tlu'se 
despised ones kept rii;hl on in the excu teuiir of theiri way. 
I'.eiiiL;' rex'iled, tlie\ rexiled not ,aL;,iiu. .and lh<' ediet was 
newer earried into elTeet. In 1117S, the\ luiilt .1 \ < i\ unpre- 
tentious Ihiiise of \\ oislii|i ,,n Sheafe .Street on kind do- 
nated li\ two of tlu' ineinliers. Soon afterwards the ( ieiieral 



468 



JJ'alks aud Talks Abonf Historic Boston. 



Court cirdereil llic ilooi> nailed u|), ((jrhidilini; wov'^liip 
there, postiui^' the urder nii tlie cliiirch doors. A facsimile 
of thi.s notice may be seen in the vestry of the present l'"irst 
Baptist Church ot this cit\ A few weeks passed and the 
Baptists withihew the I'liiitan nails, opened the doors, and 
(|iii(.tl\ itsunied wdislii]! tluMT. Since that day, 238 years 
a.L;o, \\hdtt\ci utile: |h 1 sc i utioiis the Baptists ma\' ha\'e 
siitteied, till \ lii\i li(tii illdweil tu Imlil their remihir ser- 




st lliiplisl rliin 



virt's witlii'iit iiiterfereiue from the civil aiitlmrities. The 
pulpit of that church lias l.een tilled l»y able and scholarly 
men. deep thinkers and dexoted Christians. Such men as 
\\ inchell, W'ayland, lla,L;ne and Xeale were voiing" and vig- 
orous when they assumed the [lastorate. and tlie\ exerted 
a ,L;reat and abidinsj- influence (jii the men of their da\- and 
generation. Dr. Samuel Stillman was pastor of the church 
from 1764 to 1807, durini.;- all those stormy and eventful 
days ])receding and durinn- the Revolution ; and was tiie 
most widely known and the most hi^hlv xem-rated of an\- 
preacher in New England. Such men as lolin Hancock and 



U'lilks and Talks Aboiil Historic Boston. 



4C9 



joliii Adams dcliyhtcd to sit under his preachinu;. lie was 
elected a member of tlie ]\[assachusetts Comenlion that 
voted to adopt the h'edcral Constitution. 

Among the pastors of recent vears, who still survive, we 
may mention the Rev. Nathan E. \Vood, D. D., at present 
the pastor of the First liaptist Church of Arlington. I'ndcr 
his administration the Arlington church has grown rapidly 
in numbers and usefulness. lie is a fine organizer, an able 
])reacher, and of engaging personality, and the .-\rIington 
church is one of the strongest in the denomination outside 
of Hoston pro])er. 

The present pastor, Re\'. .\usliii kennedx de I'.lois. was 
born in ^^'olfville, X. .'^., |)crcnibcr 17. iS(i(>, and has served 




/,'' 



\,llh,ni /;. lloi,./. U.ll. 



the church since Kjii. coming from a nine years' pastorate 
with the First Church of Chicago, lie is a graduate of 
.\cadia College, X. .'^., and of lirown L'niversity, Provi- 
dence, R. I. He also sUidied at llerlin and Leipzig, Ger- 
many. Traveled in .\frica and the Orient in the interest of 
missions. Has lectured at Newton Theological Seminary 
and Colgate University on Psychology and Philosophy of 
Religion and on Pastoral Experience. Author of "Bible 

Stuiiv in American Colleges, Phe Pioneer School and 

Imperialism and Democracy." lie is a scholar among 
scholars, a ])rcacher among |)reaclu-r-. a gentleman among 
gentleman, a friend among fricmls. 



470 



;/-,;//,-,s- ,///./ Talks About Historic Boston. 



'I'lie church lias had scxcral Idcaticms in its 1 
They left Shcafc Street and l)uilt a hrick e 
ccirner of rnicm and Hanover Streets, as nian\ 
hers lived in that \ icinity. The encroachments 
caused them to make anuther chanj;e, and 
handsome e(hfice i in Somerset Street. A num 
ai^o they purchased the elegant church edihce " 
lit Clarenilnii Street and I'onimnnwealth A\ 
was huiU fur the I'.rattle Si|nare church. It i' 
thie^t church edifices in the I'lacl^ liay anrl in a 
location. 



liin- h 


i-t<iry. 


lihce c 


in the 


ni the 


mem- 


^ of fiusiness 


thev 1 


milt a 


Ter'nl 


years 


m the > 


ci irner 


I cnne 


w hich 


s 1 ne 


uf the 


comniandinij,' 



tiTirmont Urinplr Baptiot Cfjiurfj 

Few churclu-s in the countr\ aiT as widely kiuiwii lo 
the present i^eneratinn as Trenicint 'i'eniple. "The Stran- 
,i;er's Salil>ath ll<in)e." Its history doe.s not ihite \ er\ far 
baek in the pa>t, hnt the circumstances atteniUnL; its iiriL;in 
are most interesting', and its intluence has extended lar and 
wide. The beautifid and iniposiuL;- Iniildini;- at nnce att'acts 
the eye and commands the achniration of the ei^itin^^ stran- 
ger, and if he attends a Sahhath service in tiie tine aucli- 
torinni and mingles with the multitude there L:;'.lliered, he 
will carr\ a\\a\ plea-^,■lnt and la-^ting ineniorii's of the day. 
This religions ori^aui/ation li.id it■^ ince]>tion in the brain 
and heart of 1 )eacon Tiniothx (idhert. .1 de\oted ,ind lil>eral 
I'.aptist of I'.ostoii. lie felt that th.' Inne had arri\ed for 
the organization of a church in ,1 central location, where 
all scats should he free, no pew |-eut,-iK. Imt \-cihuitary ol- 
ferings to meet the expenses nf the church. It should he a 

church of the people where rich .md | r, where men ol 

all colors anrl natiou.ilities uni^ht meet on a common le\ el 
and unite in the woiship of leid. Ili> heart was |),ained at 
the exclusix eness of simie churches. \s u proxeil, the time 
was op]iortvnie for such .1 uio\ement. .and a number ol 
IJajnists met on the jdth of |ul\, |S:;S. ,ind \oted.to f,.rm 
a I'Vee r.aptist (hurcli in I'.ostou, and held their iirst nublic 
service on the i)tli of the following I )ecend'er in .a h:dl on 
the C(]rner of Uromlield and 'rrenioul Street, the church 
being organized with Sj members. The Iirst ])astor w.is the 
l\e\ . Xathaniel (oKer. who eulered upon his work- wiHi 
zeal and \igor. It was <lnrin- his p.astorate tli.it I'.lder J.i- 
cob Knapp held a series of rexiv.il services m i'.ostou. So 
great and deej) were their iullueuces upon the community, 
that manv of the ihc'itres were' closed for want of ]iatroiis, 
and among them I he Treuiont Theatre, which stooil ,.]i]>o- 
site the Tiauuout Mouse. I )eacon (.ilbert s.aw the .ipjiortn- 
nit}- for the new church to secure a tiue centr.al location 
for its pecidiar work and purch.ised the ]iropert\ for S55,- 
000. The sum of SS.ooo w.as raised to tr.insfnini it into a 
suitable church building, and it was dedicated in I )ecember. 



4/2 



Walks and I'alks About Historic Boston. 



1843. This builflinsj was destroycil 1)\- hru in March. 1852. 
The present Temple lUiililini;- is the finirtli tiiat has occn- 
pied that site, twn nthers. besides the original, being- 
burned. In 1864 the I'hurch was greatly .strengthened bv its 
consolidation with the L'niom Church of Alerrimack Street. 
It was a great accession to the working force of the Temple 
and some of those younger men became in later \ ears the 
strong men of the denomination. ( )ne of them still sur\-ives. 
Deacon Oliver M. Wentworth. an actixe ;inil valuable 
memljer. and higliK' e'^teemell ])\ all whu kn^w him. The 




■.. //.(//./ \l i„ ,-. r.islnr Ik ,„„,: 



.,,,1. 



church lia^ had many abk- and earnest pastors and its large 
audit! irium has been filled e\ er\- .'■^unday. year after year, 
.--ometimo t'l oxertlowing. .^ucli men as Col\ er. I'ultv.n, 
k.lli^. llaynes ;ind Hanson ha\r exerted a powerful iiiNu- 
ence on the masses of ( ireater llostou. .\"o man r\ er pos- 
sessed the ccjutidence of the (.leuominatiou. or occupied a 
higher rank as a preacher of the gos[>el. than I )r. (ieorge 
(. . Lorimer. Tremont Temple li;i'~ been a mis>ionarv 
church, contriliuting largeK" to ihr -^upport of foreign and 
home mission^. She lia-- fnrni--hed sc-\ cral men of marked 
ability to the ministry. ;ind is the mcjther of the I )orchester 
Tem]ile I'hurcli. one of the strong churches of the denonii- 
n;ition in (ireater rio-t(in. 

The ]iresent ]i.'i-tcii'. Ke\'. (ortland .Mycr^. beg.ni hi^ la- 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 47,i 

bors in iqog. Tie was l)(irn in Kint;st(jn. X. V., in 1864, 
gradnated at I 'in\ crsity of Rochester in iSSj, and I'rijm the 
Rochester Tiu-iil(iL;ical Seminary in 1890. After a pastorate 
at S\racuse he went to the h'irst Cluircli in Crooklvn, N. Y., 
wJiere he remained ^ixtei'n years, comini;- to Tremont Tcm- 




/,•' r. A',,;,.// N/»<lW MrAlllllir. U.K., 1. 1,. J'. 

pie from thai church, lie is doini; a v; I work and tin 

larsje audience room is filled e\'er\- .'simdax'. 



REW Rol'.KRT STL'.ART Mc.VRTIIL'R. D. D.. L.L. D. 
P)y Rev. Ednnmd V. Merriam, D. D. 
Dr. Mac.\rthur's ministry has been in New York City, 
wh.ere he was pastor of (ahar}- llajitist Church for forty- 



474 ITulks mid Talks About Historic Boston. 

t\V(i years. \Wn lit- has brccinic well known in i'.iiston as the 
Summer ])reaelier at the tannins fremont 'reni]ile I'aptist 
Chnrch for many suceessive years. 

It use<l t'l be difficult to hold the great congregation at the 
'rem]>le during the Summer vacations of the regular preacher 
and ])astor. but the securing of Dr. AlacArthur has solved the 
problem. The same intellectual ability and elo([uence which 
enabled him to lead a liaptist Church in the metropolis to 
strength and success for forty-two years, has grip(5ed and held 
the ])eople of I'.ostnn in the great audience hall of 'Fremont 
Temple, even in the hot months of the Summer. 

In ]ireaching. Dr. Mac.\rthur's maimer is |ieculiarlv his 
own. His discourses are always carefully ]irepare<l and con- 
tain much worthy of the careful attention of the most 
thoughtful peo])le. I'.ut it is the exquisite iinish and per- 
suasixc power of the deli\ei-\ which holds the common mind. 
To hear a serniDU ur an aildre-s of Dr. Mac.Vrtbur's is a S]ilen- 
ilid lesson in oralnrx. Me has the '"grand style," which has so 
1 irgeb- been lost in these days, and which yet is so pleasing 
to e\er\- hearer, ami his success with the people is the best 
proof of his ji^wer as ,a |ireacher. At present Dr. Mac Arthur 
is President of the I'.aptist W orld .\lliance, the highest position 
in the gift of the l'.a])tists in the world. 

TllK W'ARUb'.X .WF.XL"!-: ITVPTISF (.ITrRCir. 

First Known as the Second I'.aptist Church and Later as the 
luddwin riace llaptist Church. 
Rev. TTerbert S. Johnson. D. D., Pastor. 
Through the vears in the nn'dst of conditions which are 
considered unfa\iirable to the g.ithering of .great audiences in 
a Protestant (.hurch, I )r. bihuson has kept his hold on the 
iieople of ( '.reater l'.osi,,n .and tilled the ,great audience room 
ot the Warren .\\enne I'.aptist I'hurch with an attentive 
crowil. It is \\(irtln' of notice how largelv these audiences 
are made up of \-oinig ]ieo])le. I'roni the tlironge<l boarding 
houses of the South l-'.nd .ind of the 1 Tuiitin,L;ton .\\enne dis- 
trict, students, clerks sicno^^raphers, working men and wotii- 
en of all classes fnid their wa\ to Warren .\\enue (liurch 
e\er\- Sunda\' evening when \)r. Johnson ]ireaches. .\s a 
priacher he is intenscb' dianiatic. Me has something to say 
in close touch with the daily lives of the ])eo])le, and he says 
it with a |iower and intensity which is often startling. .\nd 



IJ'alks and Talks .llunil llis/oric Boston. 475 

JJr. Jolinson's c1o(|ucik-c is not artificial, ilis earnestness is 
not assumed. Of ample lOininc and independent of salary, 
he preaches because he lu\cs ilie people and greatly desires 
to help those in need. As the members of his congregation 
well know, he lea\es his elegant home in the Back Bay at the 
cry of distress, and goes to the haunts of poverty and of sin, 
to seek and to save those who are suffering and dying. His 
genuineness gives him a hold on the people. He is a tribune 
uf the poor and oppressed. I'lie last two years Dr. Johnson 
has devoted about half of his time to the I.ayman's ^lission- 
ary movement, in behall ol which his ]iowerful appeals have 
been -^Ktreniely eftecti\e. I'.nl lii'- absence has been greatly 




/.'./■. II, il,ril 



f'-h in r.oston where he is recognized as one of the ablest, 
jiopnlar preachers." 

The record of the .Second I'.aptist t'hurcli is f|uite a remark- 
able and interesting one. It had its beginning in 1742. when 
a few members of the iMrst I'.aptisl ( Inn'ch became dissatisfied 
with the preaching and <Ioclrine of l\e\'. Jeremiah Condy. 
iiastor of the clnn-cb. I'hey did not consider his preaching 
evangelical and they addressed a letter to him and to the 
members of the church re<|uesting a conference on the mat- 
ter. 

Receiving no re])ly, they .assembled in ihe house of Mr. 
James I'.ownd on the corner of ."^heafe and Sparl<ill .Streets. 



476 JJ'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

where they emiilucted \\(ii-^hi]i .inKJiii; themselves, which they 
eoiitinued for se\eral ninnths. As they saw no prospect of 
a change at the P'irst Church, the\- withdrew their membership 
from that church and on July _'7, 174,3. organized the Second 
Baptist Church with thirty-three charter members. One hun- 
dred years later, in .accordance with a joint petition of the 
church and society to the Legislature, the name was changed 
to i1k' r.aldwin I'lace Piaptist ( hurch and so continued until 
the removal to its present location 011 Warren Avenue. 

Soon after their organization, the services were held in Mr. 
Proctor's Schoolhouse, and in 1745 they erected a verv mod- 
est edifice forty-tive by thirty-three feet, with twentv-six 
pews on the lower floor and si.x pews in the East gallery. The 
seats in the ^^'est galler)- were free and were filled with sea- 
faring men. The best pew in the house, estimated at eigbty- 
'i'wt: i)ounds (.'-^425) was owned by Mr. Proctor, and the sec- 
ond best was set apart to be forever the ministerial pew. 

Air. Piownd, the ])astor. was considered a strong and inter- 
esting ]ireacher and held the pastorate for twentv-two vcars. 
In five years the membership had increased to one hundred 
and thirty. In I7''>4, the jwstor being afflicted with paralysis, 
an invitation was extended to Rev. Samuel Stillman of Bor- 
dentown, Xew Jersev, to come and assist the pastor for one 
ye;ir. which was accepted, .•in<l be ]iro\'e(l \erv able and satis- 
factory. \X the end of the yeai', the ]iulpit of the First 
Cbiu'ch being \acant. Mr. .^tillnian w.as induced to become 
pastor of that church. This w.iv .a gre.at blow to the Second 
Cbn.rcb, for Mr. ."^tillman w.is a in.in of exceptional ability 
with the ]iower to attract the jicoplc. and during his year as 
assistant at the .Second Church, the church jirospered greatly. 
Tt was five vears before tlu- cinircli obt.iined another pastor 
a'ld tbev were vears of sexerc ti-i.il. The new man. Rev. Mr. 
Cair, bad a \'cry successful p;ist(ir;ite and the church was 
iibliged to enlarge its house nf W(irsbi|i. 

"!"b,e clnu'ch was fortnn.ate in the clmice of the next |)astor, 
Re\ . riiomas ]',;il(lwin, who came from Canaan, Xew TIam]i- 
shiri-. lie was invited to come as a su])ply and so acceptable 
were his services that be was elected as pastor by a unanimous 
xtAv. The letter of invitation first sent to Mr. Baldwin is 
rpiaint and shows also the methods of church committees, and 
of the compensation of the clergy in those days. It reads: 
"The church has thought it their duty to engage you at six 
dollars a week for the first six weeks, and then to increase it 



ll'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 477 

ar, they shall tind llK-mscK cs able, and also to lind you all that 
part of the dwelling house now occupied by the Widow Gair 
(excepting the front chamber, togetlier with the improvement 
of the garden below the gate), and also to allow you fifteen 
cords of wood delivered to your house." At the end "f six 
n'.onths the church raised the salary to eight dollars, and kei)t 
on raising it until it anKJunteil in twenty dollars ]icr week, 
which was paid weekly with punctuality, and all this was done 
without an\' hint from the ]i,i^t(ir. ( )n \'(i\cmber I I, i~<)0. 




.Mr, r.aldwin was publicly installed as ])astor, and the church 
ciuered ujion a career of material and sjiiritual prosperity, 
which continued without interruption for niaii}- years. In 
i8ic the old house, which onl\- a few years before had been 
repaired and enlarged, was taken down and a substantial brick 
building erected, eight\-hve by seventy feet, with a tower 
sixty-four feet high, which cost, exclusive of the land, twenty- 
four thousand dollars. It is said that three thousand people 
altenfled the exercises of dedication. Dr. lialdwin continued 
as ])astor until his death in 1825. which occurred at Water- 
ville, Maine, whither he had gone to .attend the Cominence- 
ment Exercises of the Colle.ge. Few ])astors in Boston have 
ever exerted a wider or more beneficent influence upon the 
community than Dr. Baldwin. Rev. Dr. Baron Stow, in a 
centennial address of the church, said of him: "FTe was a man 



478 JJ'alks am! Talks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 

of raic (.■XL-cllciKfs and the nicniiiry nf Ins \irtufs will lie cher- 
i>licil with afUHlimiatc rcNcrciKX- as Imiu; as truth ami huliiiess 
shall ha\L' a friend >n- an ad\(icatf." 

1 )r. I'.ariin Stuwc who came from I '(jrtsnionth. was the sev- 
enth ]Kistor. This ardent ami imi>iilsi\e ]ireacher did a won- 
(.lerltii wnrk. adding nine hundred memhers U\ the church, and 
the house of worship was enlarged. I '.ut towards the last of 
his ministry, thn>u.i;h no fault of his, there was a gradual de- 
pletion iti the memhershi]). l!y reason of the influx of many 
foreigners at the Xorth h'.nd, the locality was not so desirable 
for Americans, ami many of the actix'e and influential mem- 
lurs remo\ed t(i the South h.nd or tu nearb\' suburbs. Again. 
U'-arly :;c lO members ha<l taken letters of dismissal to form 
new churches; nearl)' ten churches were thus assisted, and 
t'",' l\(iwe Street L'hurch (the successor of the old h'ederai 
.■^ireet I. having organized, extended a call to Dr. Raron Stowe, 
which was accepted. The last pastnr at ( )ld llaldwin Place 
was the Rev. Daniel ('. luldy. D. 1^. It was during his in- 
cimibeiicy that the church removed from its old time honored 
location in llaldwin 1 'lace to the ])resent lucation on the corner 
of West (.."antoii .'-Street and Warren .\venuc. 

The new edifice was dedicated ( )ctober. iXUi. the church 
h:\\iiig .1 membershi|i at that time nf about 401 ). Dr. luldy 
reniainecl with them until 1 Sj 1 , when he accejited a call to 
hall l\i\er. The new church cost ^105,000 and the seating 
capacity is 1 ^oi i. Dr, bjldy's successor was the Rev. (.George 
I'entecnst. Ills niinistrx was must fruitful in results, not so 
nuicli in the numerical additiniis to the church as in the highly 
increased s]iiritnal etticieiKW and religious culture of those 
ahead\' forming its bod\ . .Mr, I'entecost, howawer, was jire- 
emiiieiitl)- ordaineil for the wdiT of .-m exangehst, and a |iow- 
erlul iiilUieiice was brought lo bear tipon him b\ .Mr, Mooch' 
to 1i-.i\e the p.istorate and take up the e\angelistic work. This 
^ir. I'entecost decided to ilo, greatly to tlu' regret of the pco- 
iik, b\ \\hom he was regarded with the dee]>sst conhdence 
and allection. 

He was succeeded by Kev. ( ). 1'. (iifiord, D. D., who 
worthiK filled the |iulpit which had been rendered famous by 
tk.e loni; array of faithful men whose elr)(|uence. ])iety .and 
faithful labor hallow this church. The f-Jev. lulward T'". Mer- 
rlam writes of Dr. ( hlTonl : -'Dr. ( hlTord is well known to 
th<' people of I he.iter I '.oston .is well as to multitudes of others 
through his twd | lastor.ites, ,al W'.arren .\\eiuie (.'hureb, 1 los- 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 47') 

ton, and at the r)roiikliiK' llaptist (hurcli. His success in both 
these ])astorates is also an illustration of the breadth of his 
culture and the scope of his tjeiiins. The Warren .\\enue 
diurch is located in a sectinn of the cit\- where the common 
])eo|ile are massed. The a]ipeal nf a ))reacher in this locality 
must lie to the masses, and to hear Dr. ( lilTonl the masses 
came. His church was always lhroUL;ed li\ people, not only 
from the \icinit\- of the house of \vorshi|i, hut by multitudes 
from other jiarts of the citv, and from the surroundin,o; towns 
and cities. In the conservative court end of P>oston. his suc- 
cess has been e(|uall\- ]iriinounced. l.ar<;e numbers of stu- 
dent-- and visitors to the cit\ are noticed in the con,wre,£;ations 
at r.rookline. .\s a preacher Dr. ( iiltord is brilliant, e]ii.c;ra- 
matic, su,c:,e;estive and in^pirin^. lie throws hi-- thou;.;hts like 
sparkling- ,s;ems at his audience, and the iieoo]iIe catch them 
with ea,s;erness like jirecious iiearls. 

James Russell Lowell miqht have had Dr. ("nti'ord in nn'nd 
when he made TTosea lligelow deline elo(|uence. .\bove all. 
Dr. Giftord is a ijdod man. ITe is lovable and beloved. A 
t;;-eat part of the power of his |ireachino- comes from his (ler- 
son.alitv. He is ;i winning; illustration nf the 'man behind the 
<.;un.' not in war, but on the purer fields of peace. Xo P.oston 
tireacher is so often or so widely called to s])eak on various 
public occasions in all p-arts nf the country. Tn colle.ges and 
at ]iatriotic ser\ices he is a fa\<'rite s])eaker. Tie was chosen 
as one of the juiblic sjieakers on the great patriotic day at the 
Tanama Pacific Ex])osition in San Francisco, which is at once 
an ilhistration of the breadth of hi-, popularity and a proof of 
his power in the nation.'" 



QTtjf JSrattlc ^nuarc Cljurcl) 

This church, so Innt;- identified with I'.rattlc Siiuarc. dated 
back to l'>>i). At that time l'.ti.st<iii contained le~s than 
10,000 people and as there were alreach' three ConsTega- 
tional church, the erection (if a fourth church at tliat time 
was recfarded hy the I'urilan j-'ather^ as aUnijether lumeces- 
sary. Iience there was strung; 1 ip]" i>itii in to the mnxenient. 
i'>nt tliere were ijuite a numl>er n\ 1 'x )sti mians whu oljjected 
tci the strict and riL;iil uliserxance i>\ traiUti<inal customs, 
wliich mari<ed the churches i<\ that (hi\ and as they ex- 
jiressed it, tliey "lieheved ni<ire hlieraht\ shnuhl he injected 
into reho'ion.'" These men hon^lit a l^t nf huid nf Tluimas 

llrattle in lf>0'S and huih a w leu hnusc df worship w iiich 

the\ dedicated tlie fcillnwinL; \ ear and which was I'lng knnwn 
as the "Manifest I'hurch" because the fnunders issued a 
dncuiuent <leclarin_L;' their \iews in answer t(i the jirotests of 
other reli,L;i(jus societies. The narrowness nf that ])eriiid is 
indicated liv the action nf the parishioners whn dechned the 
legfacy of twei (irg-ans prii\i(k-(l for in the wiU of Thomas 
i'lrattle. because tliey "(hd nut think it proper t(j use an eir- 
,L;an in the pulilic wurship of ( lod " Ijiere were no clocks in 
tile Meeting- Houses of those days — but in this church there 
wa^ a lari^e hour .^lass. a f(jot lii^h. which stood beside the 
])ulpit to mark the lent^th of the services — particularly the 
sermons, which were sme to be an hour long'. When the 
preacher was particularh dr\ ,-ind pros\- it was a satisfactii.m 
to see the sands nearly run down and to know the end A\as 
near, but not infrequently the preacher wnuld calmly turn 
the glass and start in on the second hour. 

This old woollen cliurch was ne\er painted inside or out. 
and in 1772 a new church building;' became necessary. 

( lovernor liowihiin offered the church a site on the corner 
of Tremont Row and Howard .Street, if the\- would leave 
their old location- 
It was at this time that b'hu Hancock made the church 
the fjift of a bell and a thousaml |)ouniN. and the i>arishion- 
ers decided to remain in the old location and build a sub- 
stantial brick structure.'. Tlii- new l.iuildinL; was considered 



Ji'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 4i^i 

the city, and licic the society worshipped for one hnnih'ecl 
very handsome in its day and an ornament to that part of 
years. 

Those were truubluu^ and exciting days for Boston. The 
revohition was just dawning and a little later several of its 
members left to take part in the struggle. 

The British Commander, General Gage, had no compunc- 
tions about using church property for whatever suited his 
purpose, and during the Liritish occupation of Boston he 
quartered a part of the 2Qth Regiiuent in the church and 
also used it for the storage of cannon and munitions of war. 

During the siege of Boston, the Americans at Cambridge 
were constantly trying the range of their guns and the Yan- 
kee shot was often quite annoying to the British garrison. 

The night before the evacuation of Boston, the bombard- 
ment was very heavy and one solid shot fmrn the American 
lines at Lechmere Point struck the clnnch building above 
and to the left of the entrance. 

The iron missile displaced a few 1iits of stone and nmrtar 
and then fell near the entrance of the church. 

In 1825 this cannnn liall was embediled in the church wall 
where it struck and there it remained until the Iniikling was 
demolished in 1874. A historical writer said in the Boston 
Post: "Brattle Square was a favorite rendezvous of the Brit- 
ish troops during the siege." General Gage lived across the 
street from the church, and in the square began the quarrel 
between the citizens and the soldiers, which culminated in 
the Boston Massacre. 

The officers of the 2(>th Ixeginient lodged with Mrs. 
.\pthorp, whose house occupied ])art of the site now covered 
bv the Ouincy House. Pierce Butler, a major in the British 
regiment, afterwards became an .\merican citizen and a 
Cnited States Senator from S'luth Carolina- In 181 2 he was 
an advocate of war against his native country. John Adams 
lived in Brattle Scjuare in 1768 with his infant scm. John 
Quincv Adams. Still later the Square became the starting 
])lace for most i.if the stages, which ran to (Jther states and 
their arrival and departure excited far more commotion than 
is known in the locality at present. 

In 1813, Edward Everett was ordained as its pastor, being 
at that time only 19 years of age. Thirteen months later he 
resigned to accept the Eliot Professorship of Greek Litera- 
ture at Harvard College. While pastor of Brattle Square 



482 Jf'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

Church, Air. liverctt wrotL- the faniuus Ijouk "Defence of 
Christianity." Like many other churches which when 
erected were in the residential section of the city, business 
grew up all around this famous cinircii and the church sold 
the [irojierty in 1871. 

hinal services were lield in the <il(l church auihence room 
Simda\ , July .^oth, 1S71.A cninem|)orar\ account sa\ s "It 
was no Common event — that of takiiii.;- leave of such a 
cliurch as the I'.rattle Square Church. 

"There were many moist eyes to be seen anionq- the con- 
gregation, '{"here were many old niches looked into for a 
parting thou.ght. There was a historic fact, to manv, at- 
taching to every window and every pillar and the jnilpit and 
the organ spoke volumes. 

"There, in 1 775, had stood a stack of arms. \\y that win- 
dow an oiificer had hacked at the queer old carvings, and 
the marks (.>f his sabre were still seen there. There bv the 
pul|)it Iia<l been groni)ed the Hags of Cireat Britain. Around 
everywhere had been scattereil the pots of the soldiery. ( )ne 
could trace to the precise spot where the cannon ball had 
Struck and imagine what consternation reigned in the bar- 
racks when from the line of the American fortifications shot 
were fast (lro]i])ing into the Sipiare, and the dismal portents 
of a driving rain storm tilled tlie air. 

"Thoughts sticli as these occurre<l to one sitting in the 
church, while the congregation was coming in, and there 
was ])lent\" of time to retlect. .\t half-past ten o'clock, the 
organist. I. 1. Harwood. seated himself before the sacred in- 
strument and ])la\ed an appropriate prelude. Bv this time, 
the clnu'ch was crowded to overflowing. The pews, the gal- 
leries, the aisles, the doorwa\ s were filled com])letel\. In 
the ])ulpit sat Rev. Dr. S. K. l.othrop, and by his ide the 
l\e\ . I'.dwanl I'verett Hale. (In the table in front were a 
few flow els and at each en<l of the large bible \\as a boU(|net 
of beautifid exotics. 

"The musical selections were all in the best taste possible, 
and were i)erformed with remarkably tine effect. 

Besides the organist, the choir consisted of Airs. J. T. 
Harwo,,,!. s,,prano: Air-. J. Iiamc)netl. alto: Air. D- \V. 
Boring, teiKir. and Air F.. E. Fickett, basso and this quar- 
tette was assisted in the chorus passages by Airs. Tower, 
soprano, and Air. ( iansett. bass, both former members of 
the choir. Air. and Airs, llarwcod came to the citv from 



Il'alk's and Talks About Historic Boston. 



480 



\'ork, Maine, where tlie}' were passing a sunniier vacation, 
for the express purpose of being present at and attending 
to the music of tlie farewell service." 

In the rooms of the Massachusetts Historical Society 
may he seen a model of this old church. The church erected 
an elegant edifice on the corner of Clarendon Street and 
Commonwealth Avenue- It was built of Roxbury stone, and 
its tall scjuare tower, with carved figures at each corner, rep- 
resenting four angels blowing gilded trumpets, is very no- 
table and greatly admired. 

The Societ\- did not long worshii) in their new Church 
i-ldifice. In a few years they sold the jiroperty to the First 
Baptist Society of Boston, who innnediately occupied it. and 
it has been their church home ever since. 




old Ciiiiiir ll(ji,l: store Corner School oiul M'ashiniiton Streets 



laifc ailingtoii street Cljuccg 

This church, (jryaiiizcd a> a i'rc^hyterian Church in 1727, 
lias iiad quite an eventful history. The society first wor- 
shipped in an old barn on Long Lane (now Federal Street) 
on the corner of Franklin Street, opposite the present First 
Xational Bank building. In that location it was known as 
the l-'ederal Street Church. 

ill 1744 they erected and de<licated a churcli building. In 
1788, the Massachusetts State Convention, which first as- 
sembled in the Old State House, adjourned to the audience 
r<iom of this church as being more commodious. The object 
of this convention was to discuss the proposed Federal 
Constitution, and decide whether it should be adopted by 
the State. .Samuel Adams and jnjm llancock, those veteran 
patriots and active champicms i)f the people's rights, were 
delegates to the ciin\entii in aiiil tnnk an active part in its 
deliberations. In comnienn iratinn of this event the name 
of Long Lane was (ln)|)ped and the Selectmen of the town 
renamed the street I'ederal Street, \\liicli has l)een retaineil 
ever since. 

In 1809, a second house (if wirship was built from plans 
designed by Charles I'.ulfincli. 1 )r' \\'m. F. Channing, the 
pastor, laid the cornerstune. lie was a preacher of world- 
wide reputation, and his church was a great religious centre. 
His pastorate extended fmni iSo.^ tn 1842. He was a m<ist 
accomplished scholar, writer and |)reacher, and exerted a 
deep and wide infiueiice 1 in the religimis life of his day. 
Following his graduatitjii fn un llarxard at the age of 18, 
he was for two years a tiitur in the family of David Mead 
Randolph of Virginia, wliere lie met fudge .Marshall and 
other great men of that da\. -\t the age nf 24 he accepted 
the call of the Federal Street Church, llis whole life was a 
pure iifl'ering to philosophy. liuinaiiit\ and leligion. He was 
an earnest seeker for the right and truth, and religion be- 
came the great fact of his life, lie liri night Christianitv to 
bear on every-day life and under his preaching, religion be- 
came a practical and sublime reality. 

484 



ll'alks and Talks About llistunc Boston. 485 

Tlu' i^Tow til of the l)usiiu-ss sectiDii uf the cit\, in l-'cikTal 
and adjacent streets, necessitated a ciian_sje of location, and 
in 1859 the church sold their property and built the elegant 
brown stone building on the corner of Arlington and Boyl- 
ston Streets, which was dedicated in Decemljer. 1S61. The 
])resent [lastor of the church is the Rev. Paul Frothingham, 
a cultured gentlenian auil nf his'Ii sclmlarh attainiueuts. 




/.'//(/.I/ rhi,,oii„,i, I) II. 




Tlic ArliiKjIoi, Slir,t Clnircli. lOIC 



Cte i§irtf)place of tfjc (Hnibtrsalisit Ctjurcfj 

in America \va^ at tlif Mm ray ( iruve Association in Xew 
Jersey. Within the gronmls is a larLje stone upon which is a 
tablet bearini; this inscription; 

"Near this spot hrst met Tliomas I 'otter, the I'rophet, and 
John Murray, the Apostle of L'niversalism."' 

"The following Sunday, Sejjtember 30, 1770, in Potter's 
Meeting House, Murray tlrst preaciied in America, from 
the text: 'The Wilderness and the Solitary I'lace were glad 
for them."' 

From this small and humble lic,i;inning has arisen a large 
an.d influential Christian denomination. ha\ing under its con- 
trol many educational and philanthropical institutions in dif- 
ferent parts of the country. 

These Academies and Colleges have always been non-scc- 
t-irian in the sense that students have free choice of churches, 
arid proselyting and religious intolerance are not allowed. 

The Second L'ni\ersalist Church of I'.oston may well be 
called a historical church. The Society was incorporated De- 
cember 1,^. iSi(], at a time when the lines between the religions 
sects wer tightlx' drawn, and the welcome extended to the Cni- 
versalists by the Puritan churches of Poston was by no means 
a cordial one. The .Societv endeavored to secure as a location 
for their church edifice the site on School Street where once 
stood the old French Huguenot Chnrcli. .Murray preached in 
the jnilpit of that <ild church in 1774, and the audience became 
so angrv over his sentiments that they stoned him. The site 
finallv determined ujion was adjacent to the lot they desired, 
bein.g the lot on which the business edifice known as the School 
.Street Rlock now stands. 

The pastor selected by this new sdcicty was the Rev. TTosea 
Ballou. In an historical address given by Rev. Dr. ?iliner. he 
speaks of Mr. Pallou as "the most powerful advocate of Uni- 
ver.salism in Xew England or in the Cnited States." IK- was 
at that time fortv-six vears ,,f age and had been twenty-six 
vears in the ministry, 'lie had tnivelled widely and had oc- 



+'<8 Il'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

cu]'',c(l several (if the most important places in the denomina- 
tion. \\'here\er he preached crowds flocked to hear him. He 
was the most iiicisi\e and the most aggressive warrior in the 
church militant. 

He was installed as ]iastor Christmas Da)-. 1817. He had a 
brilliant career as ])astor and under his leadership the church 
exercised a ])iiwerful influence ujion the community. A man 
of his earnestness and aggressiveness could not escape criti- 
cism or attack. ( harges of heresy were hurled at him, which 
he re|)elled with pungency and truth. For a time Mr. Ballou 
was deemed b)- the world outside as the arch heretic of the 
age. r.ut the man himself was most upright in his walk, ex- 
trenH'l\- alistcminus in his lialiits, nn 1st re\erent towards God 
and I lis Hdly Wind. \et lie was (k-nounced as an immoral, in- 
tempe)-ate and prcifanc man. .\11 these detractions he preached 
d'-.wn and li\eil ddwn. l"or twentv-fom- \ears he was faith- 
ful and unremitting in his lahiii's, and the snows of seventv 
winters settled upon his lu-ad. 

In 1X4(1 Rev. v.. H. I'hapin was installed as Associate Pas- 
tor, remaining two years, when he accejited a call to New 
^'•irk. and Kew .\. IT. Miner was invited to fill the vacancy, 
and continued in this positinn until the ileath of Dr. llallou, 
Jime 7, 1S3J. Ipcn the dealli of Dr. I'.allou he was called 
to the p.-istorate. The church stuod ncihly behind Tufts Col- 
lege which was fnunded in 1S47. 

In its lon.g career, this congre.gation and its members have 
given to education, temperance, missions and charities nearlv 
a million and a half iif monew of which Tufts (dllege re- 
ceived about one-half. .\t hik' time the linancial Cdudition 
of the college was desjierate. ,iud it was tlien that the members 
of the clnnch came tn the rescue. r)r. Miner bcame Presi- 
dent cif the institntinn. de\(iting a ]»n-lion c.f his time to it 
^vithout salary and without interru|itiug his cunnectioii with 
til'' church, and he perfdniied wdinlerful wnrk there. 

He .gave the church and the enllege ime seniKiti each on .Sun- 
day and .ga\e instructimi in the enllege fiiur davs in the week, 
atlendin.g to parish wnrlv in sp.are hours ;ind thrijugli his ef- 
forts lar.ge diMi.atinns nf ni(ine\ were made to the college and 
legacies of sonie hundreds nf thousands. L'nder the leadership 
of Dr. Miner the church tnnk advanced grmmd on the tem- 
perance c|uesti(iii. The teniper.ance W(irl<ers in all other 
churches were glad Id welcmne td their r.anks such an aid to 
gor.d nidrals and good citizenship. The church purchased a 



JJ'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 4^0 

lot on the corner of llerkclcx' Street and Columbus Avenue. 
and in Septemlier, 1S71, the cornerstone of an elegant church 
edifice was laid. The pi'esent j)astor, Rev. Stephen H. Roblin. 
was formally installed in January, tS02. and has proved an 
able successor to such men as Ballon, Chapin, Cushman and 
Miner. The new eclilicc c(isf about one hundrerl and liftv 
thousand dollars. 

The church has been fortunate in all the years of its ex- 
istence in baviiiL;' a^^ it'^ 'I'rustees broadminded and liberal- 
hearted men who built MilidK- .md planned wisel\- for the 
future. 

The Society still hold-- the \;ilu;ible |)ro|)(.-rtv on School 
Street, from \\hich lhe\ derive a sulistantial income. 



'E^t Roman diffjolic Cljiucf) in Boston 

The i)icturc sho\\>i the lii^t Lalholic Cliurcli edilicc in Xew 
England, the Church of the Holy Cross, which stood on the 
southeastern corner of Frankhn and Devonshire Streets. It is 
stated that the lirst CathoHc priest to arrive in Boston, was a 
Jesuit niissionnrv. the Rev. l-'ather (_iabriel Druilletes, who 
landed here in ii>y\ twentv years after the founding of the 
town bv Winthrnp. "lie came as the representative of the 
iM-ench ( iovernnient In induce the I'uritans to combine \\itli the 
other white settlers (if America against the .savage InM|uois 
Indians Although intnleranl nf all other religious creeds, the 
Puritans appear to ha\e tre.ileil the (."oniniissioner kindly." 
The number of Catholics in I'.iistnn and vicinity gradually in- 
creased and in ijSS. the\- hel<l their lirst service in a little 
brick chapel on School Street, built by the French Huguenots, 
which bad lieen sold by iheni to the C(ingregationalists, and 
Ihev rented it to the C.atbolics. Rev. John TJiayer of P.oston 
was one of the lirst priests of this little church, and pro\ed 
:i \er\- popular jiastor during his year of service. He was 
succeeded bv the T\e\'. I'r.incis .\iUhonv Matignon. D. D., who 
was the well-belo\ed pa-^tor of Holy Cross Church for twen- 
ty-six years. 

.\s the congreg.ilions grew in numbers, it became app.irent 
that a larger church was needed, which should belong to the 
Society, and enough money was raised to jiurcbase a lot on 
Franklin Street from the I'.oston Theatre t "or|ioration, the 
]iurchase price being ."^j.^ik^. .\ new edifice was planned and 
contributions flowed in readiK'. Father ^latignon was so pop- 
ular in the community, and so highly esteemed In- all classes 
of citizens, that many I'rote^tants were liberal donors to the 
r.nilding Fund, among them, John .\dams, then President of 
the I'nited States. It was ju^t at this time, that the Catholic 
Church in Boston was greatl\- strengtliened by the arrival from 
France of the "Rev. Jean l.efebre De Cheverus. FTe was born 
at Mavonne, France, of a distinguished familv, and was edu- 
cated in his nati\e cit\' and in Paris, ,ind was ordained to the 



ll'alks mid Talks About Historic Boston. A'J' 

priesthood in the latter cit\. just Ijefore the uuthreak of the 
French Revolution. He left his native land on account of the 
existing disorder, and. for a while, resided in London. He 
came to Boston in 171/). lari^ely throuiijh the innuence of Fath- 
er Matignon. These tun re\erend fathers were devoted 




and /*. r- 



friends and earnest co-lahorers for many years and until the 
death of Father Matignon in 181 8. When it was decided to 
ordain a Bishop for Ejoston, Father Matignon shrank from 
the resiionsihilities of the l'isho])ric. hut remained in charge 



49-' 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



of the church. 'Ilic choice fell upon h'ather Cheverus, who 
was not only revered hy the members of his faith, but num- 
bered many leaclini; Protestants, as his warm personal friends, 
amoni;^ them lion, Josiah (Juincy and Harrison Gray Otis. 




The death of l-'allier Matis^ndii in iSiS, hrnui^'lit sincere sor- 
row and rei^ret, and llie ln\e and c'-leem in which he was held 
was mafic manifest h\ the elalMiratt- tuneral accorded him, in 
which his remains were escorted to the < iranarv HurNing 
Ground by a pmcessiun headed b\ acolvtes and entombed in 



Jl'alks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 49,^ 

thf vault of |()hii Mat,'ncr. At that tiiiic there was no Catho- 
hc burying ground in Boston. 

As a mark of respect to his devoted friend, and to provide 
a burial place for Catholics, Bishop Cheverus in 1810 pur- 
chased the land now known as St. Augustine's Cemetery in 
Dorchester Street, South Boston, and immediately arranged 
for the erection of a small brick chapel in the grounds. To 
collect funds in those days was no easy matter, but Father 
Larissey came to the aid of the Bishop. ])roving a most able 
and successful assistant and the sum of ,'^1,500 was raised. 
The land was then purcliased. and in a short time a brick 
chapel. 20 feet by 30 feet was completed and the rest of the 
land used for burial purposes. .St. Augustine was the name 
of p^'ather Larissey 's patron saint, and Bishop Cheverus gave 
that name to the Chapel, and the burial .ground. 

The Cemetery was ])art of a fine old estate. The magnifi- 
cent elms rose to a great height, and in summer their verdant 
branches almost covered the little chapel. WHien the chapel 
was completed the remains of Father Matignon were removed 
from the tomb of Mr. Alagner and placed in a sepulchre at the 
right of the altar in .St. .\ugustine Chapel. 

A few pews were put in the little chapel, and services were 
held there. The congregations increased. Catholics, for miles 
around worshipped there, and in 1S38 it was found necessary 
to enlarge the chajiel, giving it a seating capacitv of 250. 
.Still the congregations kept on growing, and the chapel be- 
came inadequate to hold the large number of worshippers. A 
large church edifice became necessarv in South Boston and 
the church of S. .S. Peter and Paul was the outgrowth of this 
mission. This fine Gothic structure of cl.irk granite stands 
on \\'est Broadway between .\ Street and Dorchester .\venue. 
It has had able pastors, who won the lo\e of their flocks, and 
the respect and good will of the citizens of the peninsula ward. 
Manv of them have been deservcdlv popular, because of their 
kindly and genial manner, and their deep interest in the moral 
and religious welfare of that section of the citv. 

-As South Boston became thicklv settled, the number of 
Catholics increased, and the district was divided, and there 
are now several large and flourishing Catholic churches in 
that section. Bishop Chcxerus remained in Xew Fngland for 
twenty-seven vears. but the rigorous New Fngland winters 
finallv compelled liim to return to France, his native land. 



4^4 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

lie was made Bishop of Montauban in 1S23, Archbishop of 
Hordeaux in 1826, and a Cardinal in 1836. the year of his de- 
cease. "For a second time, the highest honors of the Church 
have fallen upon a man who has labored here in Boston, but 
the ditTerence in conditions between tlie two periods is startl- 
iiis,'-" 

The Catholic cliurches in New England today, are almost 
numberless. In 1810, there were only three in the most 
easterly states, the Church of the Holy Cross on Franklin 
."street, a church in New Castle, Maine, and a log cabin at 
ricasant Point, Maine. Salem added the fourth in 1820. 
Iluring the Civil War the business area of Boston increased 
rapidlv : the residential district of Franklin and Summer 
streets gave way to mercantile blocks, and in 1870, the Cathe- 
dral of the Holy Cross was one of the last of the down town 
churches, and its parishioners lived a long distance from their 
House of Worship. Bishop John R. Fitzpatrick was the pas- 
tor of the church at that time, and it was decided to sell the 
property. The amount realized was $115,000. .\ lot was 
jmrchased on the corner of Washington and Maiden streets 
and a new Cathedral of the Holy Cross was erected and dedi- 
cated in 1875. The .Archbishop of the diocese at that time 
was the Rev. John J. Williams, a man known far and wide, 
and respected by all who knew him. The Archbishop's house 
i'^ a \erv stately one and stands in the rear of the Cathedral. 
The ("athedral is the largest and finest Catholic Church in the 
citv. "The building covers over 46,000 square feet, more than 
an acre of ground. It is larger than the European cathedrals 
of Strasburg. \'enice, ^'ienna. Sali.sburv or Dulilin. The style 
cif architecture i'; the early hjiglish Cnthic, cruciform, with 
ii:i\e, transept. ai>Ic and ddre^triry, the latter being suiiported 
by twii rows of clustered metal jiillars. The trital length of 
the building is ,^'')_i. feet, width (if the transept is T70 feet, 
width of nave and aisles. iin feet, height to the ridge pole 120 
feet. There are two main towers in front, and a turret, all 
rit une(|ual height, and all eventually to be surmounted by 
spires. The great tower on the southwest corner, with its 
spire, will be ,^00 feet high, and the small tower on the north- 
west corner will be 2na feet high. The gallerv contains a 
Hook &• Hastings organ of unsurpassed ])uritv of tone and 
remark.able power. Tt has more than 5,000 pipes anrl 76 stops. 
Tile entire interinr nf the C;it!iedral is clear space, broken onlv 



Walks and Talhs Aboitt Historic Boston. 40,- 

hv two rows of columns, cxteiulint^ aloiit; the nave, and sup- 
porting the central roi't. The pews accommodate nearly 3300 
persons. The arch wliich separates the spacious vestibule 
from the church is of lirick, taken from the Ursuline Convent 
of Mount Benedict. The ceilin,sj abounds in carved woods and 
tracery. The panels and spandrels show three shades of oak, 
with an outer line of .\frican wood. F.very alternate panel is 
ornamented with emblematical devices. The roof in the tran- 
sept displays an immense cross of inlaid wood. 

On the ceilin.CT of the church are jiainted angels. representin,£j 
Faith, Hope, Charity and (ither \irtues on a background of 
Cold. The frescoing on the walls is \ery handsome. The rose 
window over the princi])al entrance, is, in design, a fine speci- 
men of art. The stained transcjit windows, each 40 bv 22 
feet in size, have designs representing the Exaltation of the 
Cross, bv the Fjiijieror TTeracilius, and the miracle by which 
the true cross was verified. The stained windows in the 
Chancel re]iresent the Crucifixion, the Ascension and the Xa- 
tivitv. These .'ire Memorial \\'indows. and were .gifts to the 
Church. 

The TTigh .\ltar is formed of rich variegated marbles and is 
surrounded by a fine canopy. ( )n the Cr)spel side stands the 
Episcopal throne, the Cathedra of the I'.ishop. ( )n the right 
of the sanctuary is the Chapel of the P)lessed \'irgin, contain- 
ing a statue of the X'irgin. There are three other chapels, the 
Chapel of St, Joseph: the Chapel of St. Patrick: and the 
Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament." 

.Mtogether it is a magnificent structure in its architecture 
and in all its fittings and appointments, and a great memorial 
of self-sacrifice and generosity. 

Another fine church edifice at the South I'nd which ante- 
dates the Cathedral is the Chnrch of the Immaculate Concep- 
tion, which stands r]n tlie corner of Harrison .Avenue and 
Canton .Street. It is 228 feet long and S8 feet wide, and was 
built in 1860, under the auspices of the Jesuit Fathers. The 
lot u]ion which the building stands contains 00,000 feet of land 
and cost .S4t,ooo. The building cost over .''^roo.ooo. The 
paintintr behind the .Mtar, represents the Crucifixion and was 
painted by Garibaldi of Rome. Xear this church is Boston 
College, a flourishin.s;' educational institntif)n of the Catholic 
Church. 



496 



Walks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 



Near l\oxl)ur\- (.'nis^iiiL,', is the Mission Church, which lias 
hail (|uilt.' a remarkable history. The building, with its tall 
towers, and situated well back from the street, presents an 
imjiosing appearance. A very attractive feature of this church 
in the summer time is the beautiful and well kept lawn in 
front of the church with a bordering of bright flowers, show- 
ing the constant care of a thorough gardener. It attracts the 
attention and calls for the admiration of every jjasser by. 
These three large and costly edifices show the wealth and 
strength of the Roman Catholic Church in Boston. They have 
t'i2 churches in Boston today. 

The leaders of the Church are working vigorously and sys- 
tematically in the temperance cause among the children and 
voutli of their flocks, which is sure to bear good fruit in the 
next generation. 




(•i,lh,,ll„l „f III. Ilnh, Class. MIKi, \Vlls!:ni!lfi'll S I iTet 



OrtjE Wc6t (triti Cfjurclj 

The history of thi^ church datfs hack to ijj'i-^/ when 
the first House nf Wdrship was erected there. Tliis old 
edifice had a very taU and \ery handsome steeple, which 
was a prominent landmark at the \Vest End, and easily 
distinguished at the patriot headquarters in Cambridge, 
across the Charles. In 1775, during the Siege of Boston, 
'he patriots oi the town made use of this Steeple as a Sig- 
nal Station t(j their friends in the ami}-. When this fact 
was ascertained hy the IJritish officers, the order was gi\en 
to raze the steeple, which was dune. It was one of the 
churches that was used at that time as Ijarracks for British 
troops. 

The ciirner stime nf a new hiick church eilifice was laid 
.April 4, iSoO, and was, ,it tli.it time, nne 1 if the largest in 
the town, and was built to accouiuK Jilatc the flood tide of 
would f)e parishioners which set in tnward Lynde Street, 
immediately after the ordmatiuu nf Rcw Charles Lowell, 
as ])ast<ir. The Rc\ . Charles Lciwell, who \vas the father 
of James Russell Lo\sell, the pott, and lirilliant man of 
letters, liecame pastor of the West t hurch in iSof). and 
continued, nominalh', in that position until his death in 
i8fii. "He was a man of rare culture, who to his Ilar- 
\ard training had added a course at the Cniversit}' of 
1-idinburgh. He spent three years in b.ur(i])e, and \\'ilber- 
force and Dugald Stewart were anujug his friemK." 

The Rev. Dr. Andrew P. Peabody, who knew him inti- 
mately, paid him this high tribute. "l)r. Lowell was, e\en 
as comj)areil with Buckminster, l",\erett and Channing, by 
far the greatest pul])it orator of Boston, and for prompt, 
continuous, uniform and intense impression in behalf of 
fundamental Christian truth and duty, cm persons of all 
varieties of age, culture, conditions .md character, I have 
ne\'er seen or heard his ecpial, nor can 1 imagine his su- 
l)eri(jr." Rew Charles A. l'.,irtol was the last pastor of 
this church, now disbanded, scr\ing it for fortv }'ears. 
The old building still remain^ an<l is used as ;i branch of 
the I'loston Public Library. Among the names of pew 



498 Walks Olid Talks About Historic Boston. 

holders of this old church is that of Paul Revere, as well 
as the names of some less famous patriots of his day. This 
fact was recently brought to light bv an old account book 
ke])t by the Sexton of the church which was fomid in a 
r.dston junk shop. 

t >ne reason that has been alleged for Revere's defection 
from his old church was that the jiastiir of the Hanover Street 
Church died in 1777, and the puljiit was vacated for two years. 
Rev. Simeon Howard, a very patriotic gentleman, pastor of 
the church, made a statement that he would continue to preach, 
if the war deprived the church of all but three families, and 
even though he had to do without anv remuneration whatever. 
"The old account book referred to contains the .Sexton's ac- 
counts of pew rentals during the years 1777-177!^, 1779-17S0 
and 1781. The rentals there are so large as to stagger the 
reader at first glance, Init an exjilanation of them is found 
in the tremendous depreciation of the colonial money dur- 
ing the Revolution. The record shows that Samuel Eliot, 
a millionaire, and grandfather of the President Emeritus 
of Harvard University, was assessed ninety-seven potmds, 
about $470, 13 weeks' rental of pew in 178 1. At that 
time one dollar in hard miinc\' was equal tii al)OUt S73 in 
Colonial currency, in which the pew rentals were appar- 
ently paid. 

"Some well known P.oston names are fi;)und among those 
old pew holders. Captain John Gill : Benjamin Edes, the 
Printer on Queen (Court) Street; John Fleet, another 
printer, on Newspaper Row : Captain Bozom Foster, a 
merchant prince ; \\'idow Craigie, whose name is perpetu- 
ated in Craigie's bridge : John Ridgway, who had a rope- 
walk op|iosite the church: Professor John Winthrop oi 
Har\ard College, the greatest American matliematician 
aufl astronomer of his time : Major James Swan, who had a 
fine estate on Tremrint Street, l)etween \\'inter and West 
Streets, who died in a Paris ])rison, where he was incar- 
cerated tor debt: John A\ery. whose name is borne by 
A\er^■ Street, a little south of the Adams Flouse ; and Ben- 
iamin C_'(_ioli<lge, who lived in Bowdoin Square, whose 
house was afterwards the homie of Charles Sumner when 
in Boston. Its site is now occupied l)y the Coolidge 
Hotel." These men were ])retty well scattered over Bos- 
ton and were jirominent in the social, profession.al and 
business life of Boston in that iki\ ami generati()n. 




A', ir. (ormr Wdshniiiluii dinl Ciiiil KIncts, 
Site of AiiK.-^' IliiUdin;/. 1850 




.' S,n,n,H)- (111,1 llnirhii Strrcis, 1S50 
lie of Smith, I'dltcr.'iOii ,(■ Co. Store 



7li)c SDraft Kiof in Soston, lulp IS(33 

liarly in tin- niniilh ..l" Jnl\, iSd:;, a most cruel ami dis- 
.i^ractful riiit lirokc (Hit in the tity (if Xew York. A law (if 
Congress had just \>l-l-u |ia---(_-(l, autlKirizing a draft to fill 
the ranks o\ deiilct(.'d rc.L;inu-nt> at the frcmt, and the ridl 
was started l)y jjersons (i|i|i(ised td the cause of the L'nidn. 
"Copperheads," they were called, who corresponded In the 
"Tdries" of Re\-olutidnar\ limes. 'Vht-v instigated the 
IdWer classes in the city td resi.--t the draft b\- ojien rioting 
and acts of \iolence. ( leiieral IJnller was called from the 
front and with s(ime \ eteran regiments under his command, 
Minn (|uelled the disorder. The defection and riotous 
spirit spread to I'.oston and from what had occurred in X'ew 
^ ork (ity the authorities here saw that there might he 
serious trouhle unless )irdni|it and decided action \v;is t;d<en. 

The riot started in I'.dstdn in\ the I :;th nf !ul\ when a 
lUdli hrdke intd and sacked the L;ini stdre of XViHiani keed 
and .^dUs in Hock S(|uare, and scciu- d a i|uanlity (.if small 
arms and anniuuntidn tdL;ethei" with fifty rdnnds df six 
liQunder ti.xed amnuinitidii, it evidently being their design 
td olitain ]>ossession .if ih.e guns of the hdeveiith I'.attery at 
the C'odper ."street .\iiiidi\. The .luthdrities at unce made 
prtparatidiis td ipiell the dUtlireak', .\t six o'clock in the 
morning of luh' 13th, ( i.loiul Kuilz, then Chief of Police, 
with Ik'putx Cliief 1 lam. called at the residence of JNIajor 
|ones, and informed him th.it the detectives had discovered 
th.at the rioters had ]il;iniied to force the .\nnory on Coo|)er 
Street, and gain ]iossession df the guns. \'erlial (ii'ders 
were gi\en Alajor Jones to notify the meiuhers of his |',,it- 
terv to asseml.)le at once .at their .\rniory and hold them- 
sehes subject to (jrders. Xccordingly the Major in the 
earl\- morning assembled e\ery ,i\ailalile dl'ficer and man 
(if his command, and tlieii scut out a part oi this force for 
the absentees. In cmi ference with his (jfficers he secured 
a limited quantit\' df c;innister .and shot and made the nec- 
(■ssar\- pre]iarations to meet all emergencies that might 



ll'alks 011,1 I'alks Ah, ml Historic Boston. 5oi 

arise, incudiiiL; iiu'diral and surgical Mi]iiiliL-s uiKkT charge 
of Dr. John 1'. (Jrdway. Ahout ten o'clock in the forenoon 
Mayor Lincoln made fornial requisition on Major Jones for 
the ser\-ices nf the Haltery. then assembled at the Armory 
in anticipation of coming; e\ents. Adjutant (^leneral 
Schouler calle<l on Major Jones at eleven o'clock and prom- 
ised a detail of inlanlr\ su|iport. Meantime < io\ernor An- 
drew sent his secretarw (olunel llrown, on the City Boat, 
Menry Morri--on. to [''ort W arrcn. with a request to Colonel 
Dimick i<>r troops p, suppress a riot. Major Cabot in his 
rejMjrt of the riot ^av'' tiiat tiie ( lo\ernor's Secretary re- 
ported "that the mol. were lieating the police, and that there 
was every apjiearance of scrion>- tronlde during the coming 
night and he wanted all the troops the ( 'olonel cimld let him 
lia\e. In 23 niimttc- from the lime Major ('abot receixed 
the order from Colonel I )iinick he had l'"'' eii'isted men 
•md noii-commissionefl ofticers read\ to lea\e the fort. 
After serving 20 ronn<K of anunniiition to each man this 
body of troo])s left h'ort Warren for Boston where they ar- 
rived at 6.15 p. m. After loading with ball cartridge Major 
Cabot marched to the State llon-e and reported for dut\- to 
Governor Andrew. The ( lo\ ernor instructed him tt; act 
under the diection of iiis Monoi-. Mayor Lincoln. Cnder 
orders fr(]iu Mavor Lincoln he marched down Liu'on Street 
en route for the ('noiier Street \rmor\ . ( >u his wa\' he 
detached L'aptain .Veehukr with his officers and 55 men to 
guard the .\rmory of the iMisileers on the corner of Cnion 
and Marshall Streets. The remainder of the command 
luarched to the Armory of the 1 ith Militia Battery in 
Coo|ier Street, being followed by a crowd of hooting men. 
wdiuen and children. Some stones were thrown but no 
serious demonstration was made 1-efore tlie\ reached the 
.\rmor\-. The (hiors were oi)ened and ]Major Cabot 
marched the command into the building and ordered the 
doors and shutters closed, hoping the crowd would disperse 
if the soldiers were out of sight. It becaiue apparent in 
the afternoon of the 14th that ;in outbreak wnuld be at- 
tempted and iireparations were made to nip it in the Inid. 

The following "Special ( )rders- to Colonel Lee and to 
C<ilonel Codiuan. commanding respective!}' the "Forty 
l-"onrth" and "I'orty- I'ifth" Regiments, recently returned 
from the -eat I'f war of which the following is a copy; 



502 IValks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

"Headquarters, Boston, July I4tli, 1863, 
Colonel : You are hereby ordered to report with your 
regiment forthwith for duty at Readville. 

Bv order of the Commander-in-Chief, 

WILLIAM SCIiUCLER, 

Adjutant-General. 
Whereupon Culimel Codman issued the following order: 
Headquarters 43th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, 

Boston, July 14th, 1863. 
The 45th Massachusetts \"cilunteer Militia will rendez- 
vous at Readville, to-morrow morning at suiu-ise, or as near 
as possible. Each man will a])]jear in uniform, and will 
bring his blankets, haversack and canteen. This is in ac- 
cordance with orders froiu State IIead(|uarters. The Regi- 
ment, though mustered out of the United .States service, is 
in the service of the Commonwealth and prompt obedience 
is expected to this order. 

Bv order of Colonel Codman, 

G. C. WINSOR, Adjutant. 

Nothing could exceed the zeal and soldier like prompt- 
ness with which the military organizations responded to 
the orders of the Governor. Major Gordon, U. S. A., in 
command at Fort Independence came up from the fort with 
a company of his men and offered the services of himself 
and his command for any military duty which the Governor 
or Max'iir might cirder him to perform. 

Captain W'hiton's Company of Ilea\y .\rtillery, Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers, also on duty at Fort Independence, 
came to the city, and upon representations made by Major 
Rodman. V. S. A., in conunand of the I". .'-^. Arsenal at 
W'atertown, this Companv was forwarded at once fiir guard 
duty at that important post. Captain Collins. Lieutenant 
McKibben. and other United .States ( )fficers, on dutv at 
Boston, also tendered their assistance and performed val- 
uable service. The rioters assembled in the evening of July 
14th in the neighborhood of the Eleventh Battery Armory 
and attacked it with stones and other missiles. The Infan- 
try under command of Major .Stephen Cabot, First Bat- 
talion of Artillery, Massachusetts \'olunteers. kept inside in 
perfect order, with guns loaded all readv for attack should 
the exigency arise, l^'revions to the arri\al (if Major Cabot 
and his command, full |ireparations Avere made liv Major 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 503 

Jones, his officers and men. The Major personally ordered 
three guns loaded and had an attack been made at noon, 
they were ready for use. 

The personal and official relations between .Major Labol and 
iMajor Jones, during this important service were perfectly 
courteous, pleasant, proper and officer-like in every particular 
and by their harmonious co-operation accomplished the result 
over which they were well satisfied. 

Both of these officers were fully aware of all the dangers 
surrounding them. The plan of the rioters to attack the 
Armory and seize the artillery had been disclosed to them 
by Colonel Kurtz, Chief of Police. The City and State 
officials were in possession of the same facts and thev were 
all acting with and aiding the force in the battery in pre- 
paring everything necessary for the protection of the Ann- 
ory and suppressing the ricit. At length an attempt was 
made by the mob td force an entrance to the building and 
obtain possession of the guns. It was not prudent to delay 
longer, and accordingly Major Cabot gave the order to fire, 
having first read the "Riot Act" to them from the window 
of the Armory ordering tlu-ni tn disperse. The effect of 
this discharge of the gun was electrical, several persons 
were killed and more wounded, how many will probably 
never be known, as they were carried away by their friends 
and afterwards kept hidden. This xirtually crushed the 
great mob, although riotous demonstrations were after- 
wards made at Dock .'^^cpiare and in other parts of the city, 
but the presence and tirm front of the military, many of 
them trained and experienced soldiers, and the courage and 
activitv of the police, cowed the desperadoes. The unrest, 
however, lasted for some days, and it was not until the 21st 
that the authorities felt justified in relaxing the unusual 
vigilance and preparedness for stern measures. That one 
tremendous volley of grape and cannister through the 
closed doors of the Cooper Street Armory, under two cool 
and brave officers, was a severe and salutary lesson, doubt- 
less, in the end saving many lives of good and innocent 
persons, and much valuable jiroperty from destruction. It 
resembled the action of the young heutenant of Artillery, 
Xapoleon Bonaparte, in the streets of Paris, who put a fin- 
ishing touch to the French Revolution. 

The Forty-Fifth were in Readville promptly in response 
to the order of Colonel Cc^dman. The Ouartermaster furn- 



S04 Walks mid Talks About Historic Boston. 

islicd the men witli arni^, aiiiiiiunitidii and ciiuipnients. and 
with blankets, shmi;- in the old army fashion, they formed 
nn tile "Parade (in.iuiid." llere the Culonel y'a\e tlie men 
a >hurt drill in "Street iMrini^." and having loaded their 
guns with ball cartridges they Ijuarded the train an<l were 
landed at Park Square. Having executed the cirder 
"Prime," with guns cap])ed and at hall cock to show the 
bystanders they were read_\- fur sericjus business, they took 
up their line of march fur b'aneuil Hall, where quarters had 
been assigned them. It was the day following the Cooper 
Street riot and a renewed attack somewhere was expected 
that night. This, the danger jiuint, and the po^t of Imnor, 
was given to the 45th, Colonel Codman being known as a 
cool, brave and judicious (itficer. b'our gun^ were turned 
over tc) the Regiment, one at each corner of |-aneuil Mall, 
in charge of gun squads, who had done garri--.n duu at 
I'ort Macon, and were thoroughly versed in the handling 
of artillery. 

The Regiment was on duty all night, half .)f the regiment 
at a time under command of Lieut, -Col. Oliver W. Peabr)dy 
and .Major Russell Sturgis, Jr. There were pickets out on 
all the neighboring street^, and no jiersons cNce])t nKflcet- 
uien were permitted to enter the square. Strict orders 
were given to tire immeiliately u]ion the a])proach of any 
threatening body of (leople, ;uid thus, by a policy of wise 
severity at the outset to prexent such a |)rolongatiou of 
outrages as h.ad resulted from the misguided lenienc\- of 
the Xew ^'ork authc.rities. Detachments were sent to 
\arious |Kiints, to the bridges of the cit}'. ( )ne Corporal's 
iMKird was sent to the Federal Street P.ridge and on their 
march through .Sea .Street. ;i rough section of th.e cit\ . were 
pelted with stones and other missiles, mostly from the 
windows. The squad wisely refrained from repl\ing, al- 
though some of them were struck. The night passe<l 
rpiietly away for the most part. There was a noisy crowd 
Avho made some disturbance but they were quicklv scat- 
tered bv the charge of a coni|iany of dragoons who were 
doing "patrol duty.' -\ rrL.;ul:ir gu.ard was at the entrance 
<;if Faneuil Hall to keep tlic "lioys in" as well as the crowd 
"out." 

The 45th gave an exhibition of ".Street l'"iring" which the 
Regiment executed in their usual fine style. Though the citv 
in a few days, seemeil restored to its pristine security \et 



Walks and Talks Ahinit Historic Boston. 



I'caring sonif uuthrcaU (in Saliirdas, 
troops were kept until the foUowin 



Snnilay ni,<;ht, llie 

— ^„j... ,.^.^ .vvj ...^ 1- ,^ I'nexlay. It seemed 

strange to many of the boys to post sentries and stand guard 
about the streets and alleys of Pioston, with orders to allow no 
one to pass through, and the indignation of some nf our 
worthy citizens at being compelled to go some other way, 
was often ipiite amusing. The da\s in the (Jid Hall were 




'■Til, It. 



"I i/'l" 



largely siient in Avatching the passers by from the windciws. 
On one or two days the regiment had a "battalion drill" on 
the Common, where a large and admiring crowd watched 
the evolutions. The rioters began to cool off, reconsidered 
their plans and wisely concluded to run the risk of !iei;ig 
drafted and perha|is di- an honorable death in battle, rather 
than be ignominiouslv shot down, almost at their own 



5o6 Jl'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

ilijors. for resisting- the laws of the land. Meantime the 
men of the regiment, living at a distance, kept dropping in 
and swelling the ranks, until the number was increased to 
500. 

Un Tuesday, July 21. ii%3, they were paid off and dis- 
charged and since those days the old "Forty-Fifth" has 
lived only in history. 

The two regiments were relieved from further duty by 
the following order: 

Headquarters Faneuil Hall Square 

Boston, July 21. 1863. 
General Order Xo. 6. 

Colonel F. L. Lee cdinniamlnii^ tlu- l'nrt\ -l-'ourth Massa- 
chusetts \'olunteer Militia and Culonel Charles R. Codman, 
commanding the Forty-Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer 
Militia are hereby urdered to dismiss their respective com- 
mands until further orders. In issuing this order, the Gen- 
eral couimanding is desiied b\' His Excellency, the Gov- 
erudr. John A. Andrew, to express to them, their officers 
and nu-n, liis thanks for their promjit response to the call 
of duty, and the admirable manner in which they per- 
formed it. Every duty has been performed to the entire 
satisfaction of the Commanding General. 

R. A. PEIRCE, 

Brigadier General. 
C. J. HTGGINSON, 

Acting Adjutant General. 




,1. ,,i nnsini, r,,si (;/// 




/;.«/o„ rnsi o/f ir. , irnr. 



ClinSt C^tircf), 1775 

This church editice is the (jUk-st in iitistoii and was com- 
pleted in 1743. It is six years older than the Old South 
Meeting House and ten years older than the present King's 
Chapel. It stands on Salem Street, and is a prominent land- 
mark at the North End: its graceful spire, rising to a height 
(if 175 feet, is an accurate reproduction of the mie blown 
diiwn in 1S04. It was frnm the belfrv of tliis church that 
the lanterns were hung out on the evening of Aj)ril 18, 1775. 
the signal which impelled I'aul Revere in his midnight ride, 
through the villages and farms of Middlesex County, sound- 
ing the note of alarm. I'aul Revere in his diary says that 
the lanterns \\'ere hung out nn the belfry of the North 
('luu\-h, and this has caused cmifusidn in the minds of many, 
liul the aiJiiarent discrepanc\ in accounts was clearly ex- 
plained in the columns of tlu- "l'"\ening Transcript," a few 
years ag(.>. The Church of tin- Mathers, which stood on 
North S(|uare, was called the old N(.)rth Church, l.iuilt at a 
nnich earlier date. A dispute arose as to whether the lan- 
terns were hung in the stee])le of the Mather Church or of 
Christ Church- The authorities of the City of lioston went 
into the subject full\- some \ ears ago, and decided that 
(hrist Church was un(|uesti( juably the place, and the city 
jilaced a tablet to that effect on that spot on the church. 

How did Paul Revere come to sjieak of Christ Church as 
the North Church, when, as is well known, tliat wa^ the 
designation of the Mather Church in North S(|uare? The 
following is believed to lie the explanation. The M;itlicr 
Clnirch, built in 1650, was the Alost Northerly Church, and 
w.-is called the North Church. Sevent\-live \ears later 
Clu-i^t Church was s<ime distance further Niirtli, and it, in 
turn, became known as the North Church, and the Mather 
Church, to distingiiish it from the new North was called the 
I )M North Church. The Old South and the New Old 
.'~^outh is an analagous case today. Judging from Paul Re- 
xere's phrase. Christ Chm-ch was callc<l the North, not the 
( )ld North, while the Mother Church was standing, but after 



Il'dlks Olid Talks About Historic Boston. 509 

tli;it \va> (Ifstrciyol, tlic wnnls. "( )1(1 Xorth" came to be ap- 
plicil tM Christ Cliureli. 

The ciinuT stmie nf ('lirist C'liurch was laiil in iJJT, hy 




CI, ,1-^1 rhiirrh. 177: 



Kev. Samuel AJyles. then rector nf IxiniLi's Chapel, wlm pro- 
nounced the folliiwini;- words: "May the gates of Hell never 
prevail against it." It was opened tor Divine services De- 
cember 2'), of the >ame \ ear, bv Rev. Timothv Cutter, the 



510 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

first rector. In a letter written about this time Dr. Cntter 
stated that tlu-re were "thirtx -t\v(j Xegro and Indian slaves" 
in his parish. 

In less than a dczen years this church will have attained 
its bi-centenary. lieneath the chancel are buried the re- 
mains of Rev. Dr. Cutter, the first pastor, and his wife. In 
the tiiwer is a verv fine chime rif bells, the oldest in America, 
and were first runu; in 1745. The bells all bear appropriate 
inscriptions. 

The bells are ver\ sweet in tone, and on a clear and quiet 
niiirninL;' can be he;ird m.iny miles tlown the bay. One lis- 
tens tn tlieir musical notes and recalls the words of the 
English poet: 

"Those Evening bells! those Evening" bells! 
11<>\\ many a tale their music tells 
< )f Miutli and home and that sweet time. 
When last I hearil their soothing chime." 

There are some rare historical relics in this old church. 
The Bible. Book of Common Prayer, and Silver Communion 
Service, still in use. were presented to the Church in 1733 by 
His Alajesty, King George, the Second. The old Bible is 
a most interesting one. and is called the "Mnegar Bible," 
(in accciunt of a cm'ious error which appears on one of the 
Images, the wonl "X inegar" being printed in place of the 
wnrd "X'ineyard" in the chapter of St. Luke, which refers to 
the "raral)le nf the X'ineyard." Some of the Prayer Books 
ha\e paper parted over "King and Royal I'amily," and the 
words. "President of the I'nited .'states" written over it. At 
line time ]iart nf the (dnnnunidn .'"^et was pledged to the 
creditor.^ of the church. 

The figures uf CluTubim in frdut (if the C)rgan and the 
Chandelier, were taken from a h'rench vessel by the Priva- 
teer, "Queen of Hungary," and presented to the church in 
1746 by Capt. Gruchy, a member of the church. The Chan- 
delier was arranged to hold candles, and it is said it. with 
the Cherubim, were intended for the Erench Cathedral in 
Montreal. \\dn'le the battle (if Hunker Hill \vas in progress. 
Generals Gage and ('lintdU u'-ed the belfrv uf this church 
as ;m (ibservati ir\ . When the latter s;i\\ how the tide of 
battle was going ag;iinst the I'.ritish, he hastened to Bunker 
Hill and placed himself at tlu' head (if a detachment in an 
assault against the .\mei"ii;in re(l( lubt. 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 5" 

T\c\ . .Matthew liyles was pastor from 1758 to 1775. His 
lather was pastor of King's Chapel, and was famons for his 
wit and jokes. In 1777 he w^as arrested as a Tory, placed 
under guard and ordered to be sent to England in forty days. 
There are many good stories related of him in "Dealings 
with the Dead." He was discovered one morning pacing 
before his door with a musket on his shoulder, and one of 
his neighbors asked the cause. "You see," says the Doctor, 
"I begged the Sentinel to let me go for some milk for my 
family, but he would not suffer me to stir. I reasoned the 
matter with him, and he has gone himself, on condition that 
I keep guard in his absence" Although he was a Tory, he 
was intimate with the jiatriot General Henry Knox, who 
after the evacuation of I'.oston l)y the British, marched 
through Boston at the head of liis artillery. Byles yelled 
out at him. "T never saw an ox fatter in my life." ( leneral 
Knox, who was very stout, did not seem to relish this per- 
sonal allusion. Now and then he found his match. He was 
at one time devoted to a lady, who finally married a Ouincy. 
He met her one dav and asked her how she happened to 
choose Ouincv instead of Byles. .'-^he ]iromptly replied, "Tf 
there had been anything worse than biles J<>b wnuld have 
been afflicted by them." 

As Christ Church was a Tnry Church it was closed in 
1776 when the British evacuated Boston but in 1783 it was 
reopened for service. The belfrv of this church will always 
be associated with one of the most stirring and popular 
poems in our literature. The well known Boston Historian. 
Edwin D. Mead, says: — "It is through Longfellow's eyes, 
that evcrv one of us. on the eve of each Patriots' Da\-. sees 
in the belfrv height, 'a glimmer and then a gleam of light." 
to give assurance that Lcxingtun and Concm-d shall liave 
their warning." 




■Iii-isl Cliiinli. I'.lli 



The jiresent Rcctur. Kl-v. Dr. Alexander Alann, although 
coniparativelv a recent cunier to Boston, stantls in the very 
front rank of llostrm preachers, and is a well known figure 




Mdiiii, D.U., Rector 



to many Dostonians. He was born in Geneva, New York, 
and on his father's side being of Scotch Highlander descent. 
After his graduation from the Theological Seminary in New 
York, he acquired a valuable experience as Rector of St. 
James of Buffalo. This parish had several mission churches 

513 



514 llalks ,111,1 Talks .lh,,iil Hist,>ri,- n„ston. 

arciuiid the cit\ ami (liirini^ I )r. Alann's pastorate it took 
tlii'fc iiK'ii til Icink after tlu-ni. The congregations in these 
chapels were incistly raih'oad men and their families. It 
|ini\ed tcj lie a good apprenticeship for nntlerstailding the 
I H lint I if \ie\\ I if the average inan. At his next parish in 
( )range, X. J., the wnrk was nf an entireK ilifYerent char- 
acter. 

The I'.oston 1 lerald savs of him: "lli^ hohln i^ tii love 




Sfn;'l. 1S7(I 



penple. He thinks mi message ever delivered from the pid- 
pit has any xahie nidess it moves its hearers to action. That 
i> what sermims are for. and no sermons can move to action 
that dii not not proceed from the knowledge of living, loving, 
Mifteringv of wi irking men and women, a knowledge which 
can I inly he ac(|nireil li\ constant contact with people." 

Hiis is one i if the nldest Episcopal Churches in T-oston, 
dating hack tn IJJS. Toda}' it is one of the ni( i>t widelv 
kmiwn (if all the chm-ches ,,\ that dem miinatii m. Its first 
honse (if worship, erected in 1735. was a very plain wooden 
Imilding and stdiul (in the Cdrner (if .'^ninmer and Ihawkw 



Walks Olid lalks .Iboiil llisloru- Boston. 5i5 

Streets, and in that iHiildinj; tlie Sociut)' worshipped for 
nearly lOO years. ( )nc <if the nmst pmniinent pew holders 
in that church was J'eter I'aneuii. and no doubt lie was very 
influential in shaiiinti' the destinies of that cluirch. The first 
pastor, the Rev. Adding ton Davenport, was a brother-in-law 
to haneuil. When (ieneral Washington visited Boston in 
1787, he attended service at Trinity, and listened to a ser- 
mon by Dr. Parker, who afterwards rose to be a bishop. This 
church might almost be called a Training School for Bish- 
ops, as So many of its Jvectors have been called to the Epis- 
coi^ate. Among them, (leorge Washington Doane, to be 
Bishop of Xew Jersey: John Henry Hopkins, I'>isho[) of 
^'ermont: Thomas March Clark. Bishop of Rhode Island; 
^lanton Eastburn. Bishop of this Diocese; Philli])s Brooks. 
Bishop of this Diocese. 

In 1828 the corner stone of a new house of worsliip was 
laid on the original site. Tt was a solid gothic structure of 
granite and wa^ the home of the parish until 1872 when it 
went down in that cyclone of tianie which swept the l)usi- 
ness district of Boston. That massive stone building with 
the square tower was a familiar lanclmark to two genera- 
tions of Bostonians and there are many citizens wdio readily 
recall its looks. Rev. Phillips Brooks at that time was the 
Rector of the Church and he wrote a most vivid description 
of the fire a day or two afterwards. He said : "The desola- 
tion is bewililering. C)ld Trinity seemed safe till night, but 
towarfl morning tlie fire swe])t into her rear and there was 
no chance. She went at fotir in the morning. I saw her w'ell 
afire, inside and out. and carried ofif some books and robes, 
and left her. !-<lie went majestically, and her great tower 
stands now as solid as ever, a most picturesque and stately 
ruin. She died in dignitw I did not know how much T 
liked the .great gloomy old thing till I saw her windows 
bursting and the flames running along the old high pews." 

For several months prior to the destruction of the church, 
the parish had been considering a change of location and the 
subject of a new edifice was left to the direction of a Build- 
ing Committee. The site chosen by the Committee was the 
corner of Boylston and Clarendon Streets. The designs of 
Gamewell and Richardson. .Architects, were accepted, and 
as a result Boston has that splendid church building on 
Coplev Square, one of the finest structures of the kind in 
the I'nited States, in a most conuuanding location. The 



5i6 



Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



building was completed early in the year 1877 and is in the 
pure French Romanesque style, in the shape of a Latin 
cross. The whole interi(ir is finished in Ijlack walnut and 
the vestibule in oak and ash. It has a handsome and unique 




A', r. I'lnlhps ISrouks 

chapel connected with the main structure bv an open clois- 
ter, the effect of which is very pleasing. The cost of the 
building was $750,000. Some of the greatest ].)reachers of 
the denomination have served this church as Rector and we 
have alluded to those who have been raised to the office of 
bishop. Perhaps the most widely known of tehm all was- 
the late Rev. Phillips Brooks. He was born in Boston, Dec_ 



Walks and 'J'alks About IJisturic Boston. ST 

13- ^^33- <^"'l 'li*-''! J'"'- '.V ^^'J3- After liis graduation Iruiii 
Harvard College he taught lor a short period at the Boston 
Latin School and later studied at tlie Theological Seniinar\- 
at Alexandria, \'irginia. lie was ordained to the ministry 
in 1859, and was Rector successiveh- at the Church of the 
Advent and the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia. 
In 1869 he returned to his native city to assume the duties 
of Rector of Trinity Cluu-ch. where he reniainc<l until iHijr, 
when he was elected llishop of Massachusetts. His sudden 




(7// Cllllirh. f,,jil,i 



"/"" 



mil 



death was the occasion of puhlic mourning seldoni e(|ualle(l 
in Boston, and his funeral at Trinity Church was a public 
demonstration of love and respect. Few men have ever im- 
])ressed themselves so strongly for good upon the minds and 
hearts of all who came in contact with him. He was be- 
loved by men and women in all walks of life, irrespective of 
race or creed. 

"Dr. Alann shows a keen understanding of human nature 
and interest in his organization of the work of the Parish. 
Trinity Church, under his leadership, is doing work among 
students, both men and women. It stands for the guild 
I)rinciple. There are guilds for nurses, and students, for 
missions and social work, for sewing, singing and study. 
Kach guild has its own life, in(Iividualit\- and head." 



tE^r Christian ^cirnct Cl)urff) 

r>y Cliliunl 1'. Smith. 

The center uf a world-wide relii^ious niuvenieiii is hjcated 
in Boston at the corner of Fahiiouth, Norway and St. i'aul 
Streets. In the triangle formed by tliese streets are the 
original edifice, erected 1894, and the later extension or ad- 
ditional anditorium, erected 1905. of "The Mother Church" 
(if the Christian Science denomination. "The First Church 
of Christ, Scientist, in l!oston." The first public services of 
this church were held in iSji; in a private house in the 
Charlestown district. Sul)se(|uently larger quarters were 
sought and found in the Hawthorne rooms on Park Street 
and in Copley Hall on Clarendon Street. Meanwhile branch 
organizations sprang up in other cities, and in other coun- 
tries. At present ( 1917) these "branches of The Mother 
Church" number over ihoo, inchuling some eighteen in 
Boston and its suburbs, but the original church in Boston 
continues to be the head and center, so far as denomina- 
tional organization is concerned, of the Christian Science 
movement. 

The First Church of Christ. Scientist, includes a loc;il 
congre,gation that not infrequently fills the more than 5000 
seats of the main church building : a ])ublication house lo- 
cated just acr(.is-~ St. I'aul Street, and the ofifices of "The 
Christian Science lioard of Directors" and their subordinate 
officials, who occupy part of the church edifice and two 
floors of the Massachusetts Trust Company's building at 
236 Huntington Avenue. T'etween Huntington Avenue and 
Falmouth Street at this point the ground is owned by the 
Christian Scientists and it has been made a beautifully kept 
park or garden, which furnishes a footway between the 
Tluntington Avenue car lines and the Church. 

The official residence of the "first reader" of The Mother 
Church is at ,^85 Commonwealth Avenue, while the house 
occupied bv Mrs. Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science 
and founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist, is at 385 
Deacon Street. Chestnut Hill, and is still hel<l by the trus- 
tees of her estate. 



520 ll'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

l'robal)ly nothiny in or aljout Uoston brings so many 
visitors from all parts of the world to Boston durino- each 
and every year as does the presence here of the headquar- 
ters of the Christian Science movement. 

C'ne activity of this movement needs to lie mentioned espe- 
cially, namely. The Christian Science Alunitcir, a daih- 
newspaijcr. ( )ther religious denominations have well-estab- 
lished monthly or weekly periodicals, Init the Christian Sci- 
entists alone have established a successful daily newspaper. 
The Christian Science Puldishing Society also issues The 
Christian Science Ouarterly llible Lessons (quarterly ), The 
Christian Science Journal (monthly), Der Herold der 
Christian Science (mduthly), and the Christian Science 
Sentinel (weekly): all nf which, including The Christian 
Science Alonitor, circulate from l.'.oston thrdughout the 
United States. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Af- 
rica, Great Tritain, and the continent of Europe. 

From its beginning the Christian Science Church has dis- 
claimed reliance on the number of its members, vet its 
growth has been remarkable f(ir numl>ers as well as for the 
intelligence of its members. .\nd fioiu the first this church 
has ever kept in view its purpose as stated 1i\- its founder. 
to "reinstate primitive Christiainity and its lost t'lemeut of 
healing.'" (Church Manual, jiage 17.) 



£l3rtt)Dtiism in Boston 

By Charles S. Xutter, Librarian Xcw luinland Methodist 
Historical Society. 

Alethodisni, sometimes designated as "Christianity in Ear- 
nest," began in Oxford I'niversity, England, in 1720, and in 
New York City in 1766. 

The real beginning of Methodism in P.oston was in 17(10 
when the Rev. Jesse Lee was ap])ointed to this jilace. 

He reached the city on the Qth of July and began immedi- 
ately to look for a church in which to preach. Failing in this. 
he tried to secure permission to preach in the Court House, 
or a schoolhouse, but did not succeed. 

He sa\s : "On one occasion I went out on the Commfin, 
and, standing on a table, began to sing with onlv a few per- 
sons present. But having prayed and begun to preach, the 
mnnber increased, so that there were two or three thousand 
attentive hearers. This may lie considered the beginning of 
Methodism in Boston, ami in all those parts of the country." 

The first Alethodist .'"Society in Boston was formed nn the 
13th day of July. I7i)_'. ( )n the 28th day of .\ugust. 1793. 
the cornerstone was laid of the first Methodist Meeting 
House in Boston, which was fixed at the North End, and was 
built of wood, 4fS feet by 3<) feet, with galleries in front and 
on both sides of tlie house. 

i'i\ this time some of the clergvnien of lloston of tlir more 
liberal ty|)e. began to look upon the new mnvement with fa- 
vor, and a few made subscriptions to the l)uilding fund. 
Among them were tlie Rev. James Freem.an, ]iastor of King's 
Chaiiel. and the Rew John Aturry. 

Jesse Lee was said to be a verv large man nf fine a])pear- 
ance. Xo portrait of him is extant, which is greatly ro bo re- 
gretted. 

One of the most successful preachers of Methodism in Bos- 
ton was the Rev. Elijah Hedding. He was .appointerl jiastor 
for two vears tiiree times, namelv. iSri-12. iHTs-ifS, and 
1822-T823. 



522 Jl'alks aiiil J'alks .-ihoiit Historic Boston. 

In 1824, Ileddin;;" was elected one of the Jjishops of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The Heddin^- Church on Tre- 
mont Street, between Concord and Worcestei Streets, was 
named in his honor. It was during- his iirst pastorate in 
Boston, in 1811, that a young' sailor, Edward T. Taylor, ven- 
tiireil intii (Jld llronitield Street Church aufl heard Pastor 
1 ledding preach. 

In the prayer meeting that followed, he went to the altar 
and cried for mercy, and before the meeting closed he was a 
happy convert. 

This young sailor in iSji) liecame the diaiilain of the Bos- 
ton Port Society, and later of the Seaman's Pethel. 

Father Taylor, as he came to be called, was known far and 
wide and loved bv everyliody in Poston. TTis sailor boys car- 
ried his name ami fame around the world. 

Methodism has succeede<l in Ponton. Alany chiirc'ies iia\-e 
been built in the city ])roper and there :i.-e some very strong 
and prosperous churches in the suburbs, where many Poston 
busine-~s men reside. 

Twn Methfxlist institutions deserve especial mention. One 
is the "Morgan Memorial," which, with its iiidustries and 
stiires, its training cla^^es and children's settlements, and its 
Church of all Nations is doing .n great work for the unfortu- 
nate of Poston. The second gi'cat institution we mention is 
Pioston I'niversitv. Tt w.as incor]iorated in iSfif). and has 
added to its Theological School, a College of T.iheral .Arts, a 
School of T-a\\', a Meilical School, and a .School of Pusiness 
.\dministration. In less tli.iii fift\ vears it has outstripped 
main of its contemporaries, and next to TTarx.ard ;ind Yale 
has liecome the greatest I'niversitx in Xew England." 



Oliver Wendell Ilolmes, in his excellent biograph}- of 
Ralph Waldo Emerson says: "We have in New England 
a certain number of families who constitute what may be 
called the academic races. Their names have been on Col- 




/,'«//</(. Wllllh, l.,l,il-.n„ 

lege Catalogues for generation after generation. They 
have filled the learned ])rofessions, more especially, the 
ministry, from old colonial days to our own time. If apt- 
ness for the acquisition of knowledge can be bred into a 
family, we know what we may expect of one of the aca- 
demic races. The family made historic by the birth of 
Ralph Waldo Emerson, had a most striking record in this 
respect." 

His grandfather, the Rev. William Emerson, was a fa- 
mous preacher at Concord at the outbreak of the .\mcrican 

523 



5^4 Jl'alks ami Talks About Historic Boston. 

Renoluticio. lie was an ardent patriot and preaclied re- 
sistance t(i tyrants from liis pulpit, and encouraged his 
townsmen and their allies to make a stand against the 
llritish Soldiery who had marched in warlike array upon 
their ])eaceful \illage. He was eager to do his part in the 
fight at the bridge, but his friends would not permit him 
to do so. The next year, 1776, he left his pulpit to join the 
American fi irces at Ticonderoga. On his wav thither he 
was stricken \\ith fever and was advised to return to Con- 
cord and died on the way home. His son, the second of 
that name, and father of Ralpli Waldo, was a minister and 
Pastor of the First Church of Boston in 1799. He is de- 
scril)ed as a handsome man, of fair complexion, tall, with 
easy and graceful manners, having a \erv melodious voice 
and distinct utterance. .\t that time the First Church was 
in Chauncey Place, and the j)arsonage was on Summer 
-Street, nearly opposite Hawley Street. It was in this par- 
si m.-ige that Ral])h Waldo Emerson was Ijorn, jNIav 2^, 1803. 
.\s late as 1843, this section of P>oston was a quiet and 
aristocratic residential neighborhood. Here were the 
pleasant and comfr)rtable homes of Judge Charles Jackson 
and of .S. P. Gardner, with their beautiful flower gardens, 
and little orcliards. with luscious fruits. In the immediate 
\ icinity was the fine cdd mansion of Judge William Pres- 
cdtt, and it was in that house that his gifted son, the His- 
tdrian. wrrite that s]ilendid work. The Conquest of Mexico, 
and "under difficidties almost as formidable as those en- 
countered by Cortes." The Rev. A\'illiam Emerson died 
in i8ri, and shortly after his death hi-^ widow and her two 
sons removed to a hrmse on Beacim Street, on the site of 
the Pioston Athenaeum building. .She kept a few boarders, 
among them Lemuel Shaw, afterwards Chief Jtistice of 
the State of Massachusetts. It was near Boston Common, 
and Ralph \\'aldo and his brother Charles drove their 
mother's cow to jiasture there. Raljih Waldo entered the 
Latin .Schiir)l at an early age. When eleven years old he 
was turning Virgil into very readable English. .\lthi>ugh 
he became one of the greatest of .\merican writers, lie was 
not ])articularl_\- distinguished at College. His class mate, 
Ii>siah Quincy, said of him that "he gave no sign of the 
power that was fashioning itself for leadership in a near 
time, or that he was t(^ be the mcist original and influential 



IValks and Talks About Historic Boston. 525 

writer born in .\merica. He was ([niet, nndlitrusixe, and 
only a fair schular, accordingf to the standard ut the College 
authorities." 

After his graduation from College he became a Divinity 
Student, meantime teaching in several places, among 
others at an old fashioned Academy at Chelmsford, Mass 
(Jne of his pupils there was the Hon. Josiah G. Abbott, 
who tells of the impressinn Mr. Emerson made upon him. 
"He was very grave, rpiiet and impressive in his appear- 
ance. There was something engaging, almost fascinating 
about him. He was ne\-er harsh or se\ere, ahva\s ])er- 
fectly self ccintrolled. nc\er ])unished except with W(irds, 
but exercised complete contr<_il o\er the boys. He had the 
faculty of making the boys love him." He also taught at 
Camliridge, where he had the same success witli his 
]nipils. During all these years he was pursuing a theo- 
logical course under the gifted Rev. William E. Channing. 

At the time when Emerson reached manhood, Unitarianism 
was a strong and growing denomination, and they had 
many able and eloquent preachers. Emerson entered that 
fold and in 1826 he "was approbated to preach by the Mid- 
dlesex Association of Ministers." He spent several months 
in the South for his health, and \.\\nm his return to Boston, 
in 1829, he was ordained a colleague with Rev. Henrv 
\Vare, pastor of the Second Church. The resignation of 
Mr. Ware threw all the ])astoral duties upon Mr. Emer- 
son, who perfdrmed them faithfidh- and acceptal)l\', and 
while pastor of the church he timk an active iiart in the 
public affairs of Boston, serving on the Sch<ioI Bciard and 
as Chaplain of the Massachusetts .State Senate. He sym- 
pathized with the .\nti-Slavery agitation, and Garrison 
and Phillips were invited to s])eak from his jjlatform. He 
was also a warm friend to Eather Ta\lor, the great .Sailor 
preacher at the North End. 

In a few years Mr. T'jiierson resigned the ])astorate and the 
separation was attended with the best and kindest feelings on 
both sides. 

He then made quite an i.'xtended tour of Eurojie and 
while iti Scotland he ])reachcd in the Unitarian Cha])el in 
Edinburgh. One who heard him on that occasion sa\s: 
"The pregnant thoughts and serene self possession of the 
voung Bostcm minister had a greater charm for me than 



526 U'alks iiiid Talks About Historic Boston. 

the rhetorical splendors of Chalmers. His voice was the 
sweetest, the most winning and penetrating of any I e\-er 
heard. Nothing like it have I ever heard." In 1834 he 
took np his residence in Concord, the town of his fore- 
fathers, and here he made his home the remainder of his 
life. The house he occn])ied lie called the "Manse." It 
was hiiilt for his grandfather, the Rev. William Emerson, 
and w as an old fashioned gambrel roofed house, and located 
near the bridge, the scene of the Concord fight of 1775. I''^ 
line nf the roiims he wrote that famous essay. "Nature." 
which, as one has said, "marked a further stride bevond 
the bounds of ortlKMloxy ." Sonie year> l;iter Hawthorne 
wrote in that same roimi his work, "Mosses from the 
I\Ian-^e." 

T-"rom this time on lunerson devoted his time and talents 
to literature and to lecturing. His first lectures were on 
"Water." and "The Relation of Man to the Globe." These 
lectures do not appear in any of his published works. Later, 
he ga\"e several lectures relating to his I'.xperiences while 
in I'Airope. He also lectured on "Michael Angelo." "Mil- 
ton," "Luther," "Ceorge Fox" and "I'.dmund Burke." 
Speaking of his lectures on Milton. Holmes savs: "Emer- 
son feit that he was listening in his own soul to whispers 
that seemed like echoes from that of the divine Singer. Both 
were turned away from the clerical office bv a revolt of 
C(inscience against the beliefs required of them ; both lost 
very dear objects of affection in earh- manhood, and 
mouvncil for tlieni in Icmlcr and nicllitluons threnodies." 
In i^i^S he gave ,an "lli^torical .\ddress on the Second Cen- 
tennial of the Tncorpor.ation of the Town." He told the 
story of f)ld Concord in as ])ainstaking and faithful a wav 
as if he had been by nature an annalist. Concord is one of 
the most interesting of New England towns. "In Emer- 
son's day there were se\eral men in Concord who ran to 
extreme idiosyncrasies; .Mcitt. in si)eculations : Haw- 
thorne, who 1)roo<led himself into ;i dream-peopled soli- 
tude: and Thiireau. the nullifier of cixilization. But Emer- 
son kept his balance among them all. He ne\er lost the 
sa\ ing common sense which enabled him to conimand, at 
all times, the respect cif his fellow townsmen." 

In 1848 he again \isited E.ur<ij)e, and upon his return, 
published his work. "Representati\ e Men." .and his selec- 



Il'alk-s and Talks About l/istaric Boston. ."7 

tion of names is characteristic of Mmerson. They were 
Plato, the Philosopher; Swedenborg, the Mystic; Mon- 
taigne, the Skeptic; Shakespeare, the Poet; Napoleon, the 
Man of the World ; Goethe, the Writer. His book, "F.ng- 
lish Traits." called by some the most interesting, is shrewd 
and snggest'"^''"- 'lie English Aristocracy are said to be 
descended from twenty thousand thieves, who landed at 
Hastings; btu time has toned most of them and the people 
at large, down, until they are desirable as plucky, vigor- 
ous, inde]iendent, each of them an island himself, and are 




blessed with a saving stupiility. He called Napoleon the 
man of stone and iron, the agitator, the internal improver. 
Ihe liberal, the radical, but withal, the boundless liar." 
Some of Emerson's sayings, like those of Franklin, have 
beciime proverbs with the common people. "Hitch your 
wagon to a star." and "He builded better than he knew." 
In 1873, when be made his third trip to Europe, his fame 
was well established on the other side of the Atlantic and 
his addresses in England were attended by people of dis- 
tinguished character. There is a noble spirit of true Amer- 
icanism running all through Emerson's writings. 

In his last ]Hib1ished work he says; "Let the passion for 



5-2S Walks mid Talks About Historic Boston. 

.AiiK-rica cast iiut the ])assion for Europe. Here let there 
lie what the earth waits for — exalted manhood. What this 
country longs for is personalities, grand persons to coun- 
teract its materialities. Those who find America insipid, 
the}- whose hiimes liave heen spoiled by London and 
I'aris can be sjjared to return to those cities. I not only 
see a career at home, fur more genius than we have, but 
fiir more than there is in the wurM." In Emerson there 
A\as ciimbineil the I'liet. the Philusopher and the Prophet. 
His Poetry will live through the Ages. His Philosophy 
lifts men out of gross materialism as he "mirrors the in- 
spirations of all great souls of all times, and countries," 
and by the depth and Strength of his thought, he carries 
men to a higher jil.ane of vision. The careful reader of 
EnuTM Ill's works will fmd in them many gems of great 
value. lie is a teacher who ins|>ires his pupils, and they 
gladly follow him. As one writer has said, "In Emerson, 
\merica has possessed a keen jibilosophic seer, worthy of 
his accorde<l rank among the master minds of the world, 
one of the ins]3iring forces, which work silently and by 
jiermeation, but accomi)lish greater things, than many 
that are berabU'cl l>y tnnnpels." 

]-Cxtracts from a poem of Emerson read in Faneuil llall on 
December 1(1, 1S73, the Centennial Anniversary of the De- 
struction of the Tea in Boston Harlior. 

POSTtJX 
E Siciit I'alriljiis Sit Dciis \obis. 

1'he Rocky nook with hill tups three 
Looked eastward from the farms, 
.\nd twice each da\ the (lowing sea 
'I'ook I H ist( m in its arms ; 
The men of yore were stout and ]ioor, 
And sailed for breail to every shore. 

.-\nd wliere tlie\ went on trade intent, 

Thev did what freemen can. 

Their dauntless wa\s did all men praise. 

The merchant w as a man. 

The world was made for honest trade, 

To plant and cat be none afraid. 



H'iilks and Talks Abotif Historic Bostnii. 

The \va\cs that rcickccl thciii cjii thr ilccj) 

To them their secret lulil ; 

Said the winds that sunuf the lads tu sleep, 

"Let us be free and liold !" 

The honest waves refused to slaves 

The empire of the ocean waves. 

Old Europe Ljroans with palaces, 

Has lords enough and more; 

We plant and build by foaming- seas 

A city of the ])oor : 

For (lay by da_\- could I'.n^tun I'.ay 

Their honest labor overpay. 

\\'e grant no ilukedoms to the few, 
We hold like right-, and ■^liall ; 
Equal on Sunday in the pew. 
On Monday in the mall. 
For what avail the plough or sail. 
Or land or sea if freedom fail?' 

Bad news from ( ieorge. on the l{nglish throne; 

"You are thri\ing well." >aid he; 

"Xow by these ]>re>cnts be it known 

You shall jiay us a la.\ on tea ; 

'Tis very small — n<i load at all. — 

Honor enough that we >-en(l the call." 

"Xot si.i," said I'loston. "good m\ lord, 

We pay your governors here 

Abundant for their bed and board. 

Six thousand pounds a year. 

(Your highness knows our hotnelv word,) 

Millions for self-government. 

Rut for tribute ne\er a cent." 



The cargo came! and who cotild blame 

If Indians seized the te;i, 

And chest by chest, let down the same. 

Into the laughing sea? 

For what avail, the plough or sail 

Or land or sea. if freedom fail. 



5.W Walks and Talks Ahoiil Historic Boston. 

'I'lu- tdwiisnu'ii lir;i\cil tlu- Eno"lish King, 

l'"iiiiiid lrit'n<l>lii]) with tlic ["rcncli 

And hundf joined the |iatricjt ring. 

Low on tht'ir wooden bencli 

Kings shooiv with fear, and JMiipires crave 

The secret force to find. 

Which lired the Httlc State tn save 

The rights < A all inaiikind. 

I '.lit rit^ht is might thr(.iiigh all the wnrld, 
I'roxince t< > proxince faithful clung. 
Through giMid and ill the war-he ilt hurled 
Till fiTcddUi chci'red and j(i\- hells nnig. 



A blessing [<> the ages thus 
Shield all the rocifs ;ind towers. 
God with the leathers sn with us 
Thou darliuL;- tnwn of ours! 



fe»omr PiflBO on 'cirniont feitirrt 

We are standing- in front of King's Chape! and looking 
west. Just across the street is a narrow four-story brick 
huihhng enclosed on two sides and overtopped liy the Parker 
House. On the first floor of this I)uilding was the book 
store of Mr. r.urnhani who did a thriving lousiness in second 
hand books. The i'arker House management looked with 
longing- eyes on this little iiiece of land, but were kept wait- 
ing many years before they obtained possession. The addi- 
tion to the Hotel now covering the site of the Ijookstore, 
is an architectural gen-i. The tall building beyond the book 
store is Tremont Temple which was destroyed by fire a few 
years ago. A new and nmri- elegant Temple arose from the 
ruins. .-Kdjoining the Ten-iide was Butler's Dry Goods Store 
and still holds its own there. The upper rooms were occu- 
liied b\- the "S'liung Men's Christian .\ssociation in 1862. 
Across the little court and on the corner of P.romfield Street 
was the building of the Alassachusetts Horticultural Society, 
a firm substantial structure of Ouincy granite. Ten years 
ago when the societ\- erected their con-imodious structure on 
the corner of Massachusetts and Himtington Avenues thev 
sold the Tremont Street Property to a trust and a modern 
ele\ en-story ofifice building ari>se on that corner and is known 
as the l^addock P.uilding. .Across I'.romfield Street is the 
Studio P.nilding. Here in Revolutionary days stood the 
home of Major Paddock, a prominent citizen of Boston, and 
an active and outsprtken Tory. He was a valuable member 
of the n-iilitia of the Province and commanded the Artillery 
Regiment. He was a good military nian and the instructor 
in the artillery line of two men who afterwards became val- 
uable officers in General Washington's army. Captain Crane 
of Boston Tea Partv fanie and General Henry Knox the 
Boston bookseller. He buildetl better than he knew- for the 
patriot cause. T11 front of the Granar\- Bur\-ing Ground may 
be seen a row of fine large trees. They were planted by 
Major Paddock- in ijfij and were ever after known as the 
Paddock l-"hns. He imported the trees from England ;ind 



S32 



H'alks iiiui Talks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 



niaturcil lluiii in Miltnii. TIu-n >tn<Hl until 187,^ when 
changes in tlir paxinL^ mi Tit-indnt Slrret caused them to 
i^TOw unsightly and ihcx were cut dn\\u. The dciughty 
Maj<;ir was exceeding wmth with the ^,•ulkees whu, in their 
juhilatinn (ner the repeal ni tlie Stani]) Act, luing lanterns 
Mil the liranclies (jf the trees, lie considcreil it a desecration 
<i|' hi-' |iets, fur he duuhtle'-s \\atc]ie(l tlie wlmle proceedings 




and he (iffered a guinea reward I'm' "inlorniatii)n of the per- 
son or in-rsons wlm liad cut and hacked the trees." The 
old Major was a noted character in his day. A "bon vivant."' 
he christened that portion of Treniont Street, shaded bv his 
elms, "T,nng .\cre," in memory of a convivial section of 
London. The majestic trees inside of the old Granary Bury- 
ing ("iroimd still tlom-ish and shade the graves of the sturdv 
old patriots, wlni are (|uietl\' slee|)ing tliere. Major Paddock 
planned to ilelixer twn (if tlie gims n\ his cnupanv to Gen- 
eral Gage. We tell the story elsewhere . .f how the ])atriots 
tiiok them alnici^t friim under his \(.-r\ nose and deli\ered 



Walks ami Talks .Ihoiil 1 1 islaric Huston. 533 

them to General W a>lii!ii;ti in cluriny the Siege of J.lnston. 
These ginis saw service through the Revolutii.m. They were 
christened "Hancock" and "Adams" and are now the prop- 
ert}' of the Bimker Hill Monnment Association and may be 
seen by all visitors to the monument. Major Paddock left 
Boston when Washington compelled the liritish to evacuate 
Boston, and returning to England was made Governor of 
the Island of Jersey. On the corner of Winter and Tremont 
Streets, was the tiiu' ri'sidence i )f Hugh Earl I'ercy. lie 
belonged to the \er\ rinwer <>f the luiglish noliility and was 
an officer in the llritish trodjis in I'lostnn. (Jn A])ril 19, 
1775. when the news of the battle of Le.xington reached 
Pioston and reinfurcements were sent out by the British gen- 
eral, Percy's Red Coats were hurried out of their barracks 
on Boston Common, and the line stretched down Tremont 
Street from tlie ('omnion to ( hieen (Court) ."-Street, and they 
starteil for Lexington, li\ \\a\ of Boston Neck, the fifes and 
drums playing "^'ankee Doodle." It was an anxious day 
for both tiie "Loyalists" and the "Continentals" and many 
were awaiting the outcome of the fight to decide with wdiom 
tliey would cast their lot. 

( )n the corner of Park and Tremont Streets and abutting 
tile <;ranar\ Burying Ground, is the far famed Park Street 
Clinch of which we si>eak elsewhere. < )n the east side of 
the r.ur\ing ( Iround may be seen the comfortable looking 
Tremont House, which old I'.ostonians miss, even to this 
dav. After the ilestruction by fire in iSiS of the old Ex- 
change Cof¥ee House, which stood in Congress Square, there 
was no house in Boston worth)' the name of Hotel, and it 
was the source of nuicli regrd to the traveling public as well 
as to the citizens, for there wa^ no idace where chstinguished 
visitors could be suitably entertained. In the spring of 1828 a 
subscription fund was raised and the building of the Tremont 
House assured. It was completed in .\ugust, 1820 and opened 
in the following ( )ctober ;ind was the pioneer first class 
hotel in .America. .Mr. 1 )\viglu I'.oyden, son of Simeon Boy- 
den, an old innkte]H-r of Boston, was its first manager, and 
under his regime was held on ( )ctolicr !<). iS.X), the opening 
dinner. The bill of f;u-e used on tb.at occasion was a litho- 
graph of handwriting, the first ever lr;insferred in this coun- 
itrv. The lithographer of that da\ w:is William S. Pendleton 
who in i8_>8 \isiteil ( Icnn.mx .-ind secured the services of 



SM H'allcs dial Talks .Ihaiit IHstorii Boston. 

•me i_)f the ht-st wurkiiK-n of tliat tinit-. When the bankers 
])resent were tolil that the Ijill was printed they were fright- 
ened and line <jid merchant asked. "If Dwight Boyden's sig- 
nature is printed, 'what are our checks worth?'" This din- 
ner was divided into four courses and dessert. In the four 
courses were ^y ditiferent kinds of food and the dessert con- 
sisted of four varieties of pears and five varieties of grapes. 
The .^t. Michael's pears and tlie grapes were from the gar- 
dens and gra]jeries <A S. (i. Perkins, X. Bridge, and S. R. 
Johnson. .About 120 persons, mostly merchants, were_ pres- 
ent. His Honor, Mayor Josiah Ouincy, presided and among 
the gentlemen present were Judge Joseph Story, Daniel Web- 
ster, F.dward Everett. Benjamin Gorhani, John Reed of 
liarnstable, the three last named being then members of 
Congress, Peter Brcinks. Majnr Bartmi, David Sears, Harri- 
son Grav ( )tis. S.nmuel A|ipleton, Tlmmas Perkins. James 
I'erkins, Andrew E. Belknap, Josiah Bradlee, Amos 
Lawrence, .\'at!i;in Appleton, lulnumd Dwight, Robert 
<;. Shaw, Patrick T. Jackson, William .\iipleton, William 
Lawrence. Lihn ( '. lones, Thiinias P. Wales, James K. 
Mills, Dr. George C". Shattuck, b.seph Coolidge.' Ebenezer 
T. .\ndrews. (jiles Lodge, Richard D. Tucker, Daniel P. 
Parker, Israel ]\Iunson. John I funl. Jr.. Edward Tuckerman, 
Richard b'letcher. Hem'y B. Rogers, (jenrge and Thomas 
Searle, Jushua Clarke. < ieo. W. Pratt, James Reed. James 
W. Page, Jeremi.-di Fitch, John C. Lee, Jnhn .\. Lowell, 
Charles Br-adlmrx, I'rederick Tudcir, Daniel Safford. Isaac 
.Stevens, V.. .\. ami W. Winchester, Jnshua Davis. Benjamin 
B. Mussey. Sannu-l 11. Babcock. David Denny, Joseph B. 
Bradlee. C(inielius l"(i(ili<lge. Thomas Nutmarsh. Alontgom- 
erv Xewell. Elisha Parks. Lorenzo Draper, X'athaniel R. 
Sturgis. \\'illiam Thninpsdn, lienjaniin Lciring. Ebenezer 
(,'hadwick, Samuel I-'ales, David Lowe, Israel Bangs, .Arthur 
French, W. Tuckerman, Isaac McLellan, Francis Skinner, 
IIenr\- Cassett. lacob Hall, Charles Well and Jolni L. Gard- 
ner. It was surely a worthy list of names. 

In his speecli l''d\\ard Everett saiil, 'T will, with } our 
leave, propose a toast: "The Afemorv of Columbus! The 
fatlier of .\meric;in travelers who thought the world too 
narrow for him even before he was sure there was any other, 
who crossrd the unknown .\tlantic for a trip of pleasure and 
<lisco\rred ;i new continent for his w.'itering place.'" 

In the ilavs of Dw iglit Bosdcn and fohn L. Tucker, the 



Il'alks tiiid I'alks Ahoitt Historic Boston. 



535 



service in the- ilinin^i; room was as elaborate as the steps and 
figure in an old fashioned minuet. When this hotel was budt 
it was the finest public house in America. Among the early 
guests at this house were Thackeray and Charles Dickens, the 
great English authors ; Charles and Fanny Kemble, and Presi- 
dent Andrew Jackson. John Wilkes Booth, the actor, was 
there shortly before he assassinated President Lincoln. 

A little farther out on Trem<int Stret, between West and 




Mason Streets, stoixl a famous l)lock of Iniildings known as 
"Colonnade Row." so called hrcause in front of the doors 
was a porch, supported by ( 'orintliian columns. The block 
was designed by Cliarlrs linlfincb. tlic well kncjwn architect 
of the State House, anil who designed other famems 
Ijuildings. 

Tt was erected in iXio and here for many \ears resided 
many of Boston's wealthiest citizens. The house shown on 
the left hand side of the ]iicture was for many years the 
home of Amos Lawrence of the great dry goods firms of 
A. iS: .\. Lawreiicp (.'o.. a \ery wealtln man, and a great 



536 



ITiilks and Talks About Historic Bostot. 



philantlir(iiii>t, \\\u> iIicmI in tlii-- Imuse in 185J. Tiie site, on 
the corner n\ \\\-^t and I'lcnKint Streets is now occupied by 
an eleq-ant Inisiness structure known as the Lawrence Build- 
ing, and the estate is still in the possession of the Lawrence 
family. After Lafayette's \isit tu America in 1825, this por- 
tion of TrenKint Street. \\a> kmiwn as "Lafayette Place." 
which name it retained fur man\ \ ears. Today the ^lall on 
the Common stretchin,:^- sciuthwanl frnm I'ark Street alnno 
Tremont Street, is called •'LafaNette .Mall". 




7/ 



>,:l Hull 



Asm 



\\'here the Tlcitel Tuurainc nuw stands was unce the hi>me 
(if the .\damv lamil\ and nn tlie liotcd luiildin,'.;- a tablet with 
this inscription: 

( >n this site stoud the Resilience of 

J( )1-IX (jLlXtA' A1).\MS 

Si.xth I'resident of the I'nited States 
Llere his sun Charles I-Tancis .\dams 

was licirn in 1817. ..1^ 

Minister to I'.nsjiand i8hi-i8()8 




Ciipl. lhiHi,„\ Hulls, . Sil, of liostiiii I'tistvjji 



am feioiitf) CSurcl) 

This is an excellent jiictnrc of what was known as the "Xew 
South Church." as it appeared sixty years ago. The site is 
the junction of Summer and Bedford Streets and as far as 
can be learned the lirst owner was Richard Tuttle, who set 
up a windmill on the pro])erty, which was then quite near 
the water. I'or a long time Bedford Street was known as 
Bh'nd Lane. \\'hen it was widened and laid out as a residen- 
tial street, this little narrow neck of land was called '"Church 
Green." ( )ur forefathers always selected most eligible sites 
on which to erect their church edifices, and as they considered 
this a fitting location for a church in days to come, it received 
it.s name, "Church Green," which it has ever since retained. 
The town owned the lot, but in 1715 deeded it to jietitioners 
WHO proposed to build a church there to be called the "New- 
South." The father of Samuel .\dams, the Revolutionary 
patriot, li\ed on Purchase Street, near Congress, and was one 
of the signers of the petition. .\ church was built there and 
finished in 1719. and is described by a contemporary as "a 
convenient wooden building with a handsome steeple linishcd 
a!'ler the lonick order, in which is a bell." 

Rev. I'eter Thatcher, who was settled in Weymouth, was 
called to the pastorate and the action stirred U]) quite a com- 
motion in that staid old town, and also among some of the 
m-Miibers of the ".Xew .South." There was no opposition to 
-Mr. Thatcher as .-i man, or to his ])reaching, but it was a 
matter of conscience on the ]iart of the members referred to. 
They considered it immoral for a wealthy church to take 
away the minister of a smaller and poorer church. This was 
one of the o])ponent's arguments: "Weyinouth, in God's sight, 
is as precious as I'.oston, and the souls there of as great worth 
as the souls here. .\nd to the common objection that it is a 
pity that Mr. Thatcher, being so bright a light, should smoke 
out his days in such obscurity, we answer, first, bright lights 
shine brightest in the darkest places, and, secondly, bright 
lights are the obscurer for burning in a room where there are 
more nd as bright." The vote inviting Mr. Thatcher to be- 
come pastor, was carried by a uiajority of one. There was 
no objection to Mr. Thatcher's ability or morals, but it seemed 



540 



Jl'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



to be a ([uestiun ui ]>riiK'i|ik-, a^ already stated, in the minds 
of c[uite a number, and when it eame to installing him as 
pastor, there was a great nprnar, and the exercises were car- 
ried out with great difficulty. The oiiposition organized a new 
society, and built a fine brick church on Hanover Street, 
known as the "Cockerel I. lunch." which they dedicated in 
I/Ji. The church editice re])resented in the cut. was the suc- 
ce'^sor of the one in which Rev. .Mr. Thatcher preached. It 
was built of Chelmsford granite in 1S14, and was designed by 
Charles I'.ulhnch. the architect of the State House. Its loca- 
tion was commanding and ideal, being surrounded by hue 
residences, and it was considered one of the finest churches 
in the town. Its gr.iceful s]iire rising nid feet above the side- 
w:dk was a noted landmark far down the harbor. The spire 
seen in the background (in tlie left of the picture was that of 
the Rowe Street r.a]iti-t ehurch. which stood on the corner 
of Bedford and Rowe ( near C'hauncey ) Streets, whose pastor 
in 1858, when this ])icture was taken, was the Rev. J'.aron 
Siow.'D. D.. one of the great lights of the I'.aptist denomina- 
tion. From the church pcjrtico of the "Xew South" one mi.ght 
gi'ze at the Vtlue waters n\ the barlior, then scarcely a stone's 
throw away. Here, as eKcwhere, business pressure proved 
r<'lenlle-> and the vrand nld structure was torn down in 18(18. 




flDIb SoGtDU 'CfjCiitirS 

The Puritan atmosphere rif early Boston was decidedly 
unfavorable to theatres and theatre soiny. Hut the town 
grew rapidly, a new and different, and, accorcHnu;- to the re- 




77<r- /■'ilrinl SIrr, I Th,nt, 



lisious stiiiidard, of those days, a more worldly element was 
addefl to the population, and this class of citizens demanded 
annisement, particularly that afforded b}' the drama. The 
first Roston Theatre was built in 1704 and stood upnn the 
corner of Federal and Franklin Streets. At that time that 
section of the city was rapidly becomini.;- the fashionable resi- 
dential quarter. It was called the "l-'ederal Street Theatre." 
The original building was burned down, but was rebuilt in 
1798, in a more substantial manner ancl until it was razed 
in 1852, it continued a most popular place of resort. In 1805 
the name was changed to the "Boston." In 1828 it was re- 



54^ 



Walks ami Talks .-ihoiit Historic Boston. 



named "The Ukl Drury" and the name was asain changed 
to the "Odeon" in 1835. Connected with the theatre was a 
large and handsome liall room, tea and card rooms and a 
kitchen. Many famous actors, whose names are still familiar 
to old theatre goers, have ;ictc(l their parts on the stage of that 
(lid theatre. 

It i-- imt L;enerall\ known th.'it 1. lhi\\;ird I'aMie. the au- 




-17!HI.1S(I(I 



thor of "llijme .^weet 1 Icune," was a playwright and an actor. 
Ily the death of his father he was forced to leave college and 
went upon the stage and played a most successful engagement 
at this theatre. His talents attracted attention from promi- 
nent nu-n. ;ind we arc told that through the influence of Dan- 
iel \\ fli--ter anil \\'ashington lr\ing he was given a Consul- 
ship at 'funis where he ilied. 

In i8ji, the great English actor, |{dmund Kean, made hi- 
apjiearance in Boston. 1 le acted in Shakesperian parts. 
"Ilamlet," "King Lear,' :md "Romeo." Xothing like his 
>])lendid acting had ever heen ^een in Boston, the house was 
crowiled ;it every performance, hundred^ turned away. 



ll'ulks iiiiii Talks .Ihoitt Historic l!„s/,>ii. 54,! 

Acc(iiii|)anyin<;- cut i> I'rc nil an iniLTcstinji' water culor by 
Alexander Kohertson, wliieli is now the ])ropcrty of the Bos- 
ton Pulilic IJbrary. On the ri.t;ht of the picture is lloston 
Common, the entrance beinsr indicated by the tall arched 
[gateway. Near this gate stood the ''pillory" and the "whip- 
pinpf post" which were placed here when they were removed 
from State Street. Ileyond the further line of trees on the 
Common a glimpse may be had of the Charles River. The 
building on the right and in the background is the residence 
of ^^'illiam Foster: the site is now occupied by the Hotel 
I'elham on the corner of Tremont and Bovlstou Streets. 
The two-story and half building in the centre of the picture 
is "Hatch's Tavern," now the southern corner of Mason and 
Tremont Streets and the low building behind it is a carriage 
factory. Rising high above these buildings is the "Haymar- 
ket Theatre" as it appeared in 1798. It was a verv exclusive 
theatre, intended for the "bon ton." but it was too ambitious 
for that d.ay. Tt had a brief existence, for the Federal Street 
Theatre was a formidable rival and did some novel adver- 
tising. The town at that time could not support two large 
theatres. It stood on ,-1 lot a little snutli of the Colonnade 
building. In its day it was the largest and best arranged 
theatre in the countr\ . 

Till': XATloXAL TIIF.VTRK, 

This theatre began its career at ;i much later date than the 
"I'ederal Street" and the "Ilavniarket" and was located on 
Portland Street near Traverse Street. The first building 
erected on this site for amusement purposes was called the 
"American Amidiitheatre" and was used for small indoor 
circuses and occasional theatrical performances. This was 
in 1832 and a few years later it was leased by William Polly, 
who had been manager of the Tremont Theatre, which thea- 
tre he left, considering he had been unjustly treated by the 
l^roprietors. He started this new theatre as a rival and called 
it the "\\'arren." This new venture was most liberally patron- 
ized, and Mr. I'ollv \\;is niiliged to rebuild and enlarge it in 
1836, and he then called it the "Xatimial." There were ex- 
cellent ]ierformances at this theatre .ind the audiences were 
always large. So successful did it pro\e that Mr. Polly 
coulcl have retired at one time with a very considerable for- 
tune. It continued to be a very po])ular place of amusement 
until 18^2. when it was dcstroved bv fire. Two of the great- 



544 Walks and Talks .Ihnitt Historic Boston. 

est acturs of thusc ila\s, Alacrcady and Hackett. plaved verj' 
successful eiiijagenients there. The plays of Shakespeare, 
■■ Hamlet, ■' "Macheth," "Richard the Third," "The .Merchant 
of A'enice," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Much Ado Ahout 
.Vothino-," were given and always to large audiences. 
"( )thello" proved to be the most popular and the most 
profitable of the Shakesperean plays. The second N^ational 
Theatre was burned in 1863 and was never rebuilt. The last 
theatre never enjoyed the ]io]nilarity of its predecessor. It 
had man}- managers who struggled in vain to make it pay 
expenses. 

r.o.sTf ).\' tiii-:atre. 

The i^resent Piostun Theatre opened its doors to the public 
on Monday evening, Se])tember ir, 1S34. It was a successor 
to the old Federal Street Theatre ( once called the Boston 
Theatre), whose building had been sold. The committee 
chosen to select a site fur the new Theatre consistecl of John 
F. Bates, Gardner I'.rewer, ( )tis Rich and John E. Tha\er, 
The Company was incorpdrated on Aiav 15. 1852, with a 
cajiital stock of $200,0(X). The site on Washington Street 
was valued at that time at 81(14.000. Todav the jiroperty is 
assessed for $825.ocK3. It has been rumored that this famous 
American playhouse will be demolished. It has rounded ou*' 
over ho seasons, and B(Tston theatre i^oer-- will watch it> ]ia-s- 
ing out with deep regret. 

Till-: B( )ST( )\" Ml"SKl"M 

\\ e think we can safely assert that the favorite theatre of 
the belter class of Boston citizens anil nf playgoers generally 
was the Boston Museum. It held its high place in their re- 
gard all through its long and al'le management. It first 
opened its door June 14, 1S41. in a building on the corner of 
Bromfield and Tremont ."streets where now stands the Pad- 
dock Buildnig. ft was at once a po])idar place of resort, and 
to meet the demands (if an increasing jjopulation the attrac- 
tive building on Tremont .Street between Court and School 
streets was erected and the first performance was given there 
November 2, 1846. From that date the Museum enjoyed 
uninterrupted prosjierity, .and it is said never knew an un- 
successful season. In 1847 the great comedian, \\'illiam 
Warren became connected with the Museum, and made his 
first bow in the well known cumeiK of "Sweethearts and 



Walks iiiiil Talks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 545 

Wives," and became an nnusnal favorite. In 1851 Mrs. 
Farren made her first appearance and Mrs. J. R. Vincent m 
1852. These three sterUng actors shared the love and respect 
of Bostonians and playgoers both on and ofif the stage for 
many years. The list of "Stars" who appeared on the boards 
of that theatre is a long one and includes the names of nearly 
all the great actors of the last half centur\-. 




Boston Museum — is.io 




aibrrt m. SISann 

L.itc cit liimp.iiu A. 45th. aiiil Historian of tin- 4^111 Mass. 
Rcut.. Al. \'. M. ■ 



T( I .\n' ( ( ).\li\ Ahl'S < )l-' Till-: (,R WD ARMN' ( )!" THE 

ui'.i'riu.ic. 

'riu-iT- a jiicturc gallery in ni\ niiml, iuniL;' with nian\' paint- 

inj;'s rare. 
Anil in tlic calm and (jniet days I often linoer there: 
'rhe\ are .Memory's treasures. iLjathereiJ from out hfe's rugged 

wav. 



Walks and Talks About Uistaric Boston. 547 

And were ])ainu-(l liv tlu- .\l,isti,'r liaml. wlmse wnrk will ne"er 



There's a cherishccl. liallnwcd corner where 1 s|)cn(l nianv 

pleasant hours, 
A group of kindred soids T see in manhood's iqieniiiu; ]>o\\ers; 
With tlashini;- e\es ami kinilliuL; hrows and faces to the lis.;ht, 
They pledge their lives to kreedoni. to Countr\ and the Right! 
'Twas when the lurid elonrl of war held the land in its 

embrace. 
There was grief and fear in many hearts and lilanched was 

many a face : 
For that gallant I'nion Army, lli:it mai-chcd forth in i)roiKl 

array. 
Was driven hack from Kichmon<r> spates after man\ a bloody 

fray. — 

But there were eyes of f.aith that s;iw heyon<I defeat and strife, 
AMien from Slaverv's ashes there should rise a ]iurer .Xation's 

life, 
For at the helm of .state there slooil one grand, m.ajestic form, 
With heart and li])s from malice free, serene in calm and 

storm. 

.^s Moses in the olden tiine came forth to lea<l his race. 
So ( iod sent Aliraham l.iuc(]ln to till his tiuie and place: 
\\'ith ])urpose hi,L;li. and honest lieart and coura-e. strong and 

true. 
Tie leaned upon the .\lnnL;lit\ arm and safely led us through! 

His calls for men. like trumpet tones, rang clear from East 

to West. 
A nullion freemen answered liim of our bravest and our best; 
Thev left their homes ami kindred <le,ar. the I nion to uphold. 
That precious leg.acy becpiealhed bv ]iatriot sires of old! 

How well thev fought and suffered is known to every one. 

How generous in the \'ictory when the giant task was done! 

And now "( >lil i dorv's" brilliant folds, in peace, tloat every- 
where. 

And Comrades of the '■I'.lue" and "l iray" their country's i;reat- 
ness share. 



tIbrntG ^3rfrrDin8: tftr Cibil UUar 

Aljraham Lincoln was ncjniinaled for President by the 
Republican Convention at Cliicat^o in June i8()0. That I'res- 
idential campaign was without duubt the most excitinsj and 
the most menioral)le in the history of the coiuitry. There 
were two principal parties in tiie held. 

[•"irst. The Republican, who declared freedom to be the 
normal condition of all tcrrit(jrv and that slavery can exist 
only by authority uf municipal law. .\hraham l.incnln- was 
its standard bearer. 

Second. The winn of the Democratic I'arty led Ijy jdhn 
C. Breckenridge, who declared that no power existed that 
might lawfully control slavery in the territories; that it ex- 
isted in anv territory in tnll force, whenever a slaveholder 
and his slaves entered it; and that it was the dut)' of the 
National (iovernment tcj jirotect it there. 

Only the politicians of the two parties named seemed 
to have any decided convictions on the great subjects which 
had agitated the country and which were the points at issue. It 
was a ilesperate conflict from July to November and grew 
more intense as it approacbeil its culmination at the polls, 
rile election of Mr. Lincoln revealed the existence of a thor- 
oul;Ii1\ organized conspiracy against the life of the Reimblic. 
widesiiread, powerful and malignant. 

( )ne of the jirincipal cons])irator^. William L. Yancev. made 
a pilgrimage through the Northern States, for the purpose of 
vindicating the claims of the Southern extremists, concerning 
state supremac)- and the extension of slavery and spoke in the 
■'( radle of Liberty," — I'aneuil Hall. He was listened to 
patiently and respectfidly and returned to his Southern home 
to arouse the masses of his section into rebellion. Another 
.Southern leader. Wise, of \'irginia, after the election of Mr. 
Lincoln, said: "The South will not wait until the f<iurth of 
.March, we will be luider arms before then." 

b'ollowing the intelligence of Mr. Lincoln's election the 
Legislatures of several Southern States passed the ordinance 
of .Secession. .South l"arolin;i led liie wa\'. Within her bor- 



H'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 549 

dcrs were the most active and viok-iit conspirators. Amidst 
the wildest rejoicinijs she formallv seceded Deceinlier 20th, 
i860. 

Lieorgia. Alabama, Mississip])i. Louisiana and Idorida at 
once joined in the movement. A few months later, Virginia, 
Tennessee, Xorth Carolina, Arkansas and Te.xas fell into line. 
This revolt covered a territory of over a million square miles. 
They formed themselves into a new association which they 
called the Southern Confederac\-, and declared their intention 
to maintain b}- arms what they had done. < hi March 28th. 
iSC)i, was printed a re]iort of a s])eech made at Savannah, 
(leorgia, by Nice-Tresiilent Alexander II. Stephens of the 
Southern Confederacy, in explanation of the new Confederate 
Constitution, in which he defined the inisition of the Confed- 
eracy towards slavery as follows : 

"The new Constitution has put to rest forever all the agitat- 
ing questions relating to our peculiai- institution. African 
slavery as it exists among u> is tiie pn>])(.T status of the Negro, 
in our form of civilization." Referring to the ('onfederacy 
he went on to sa\' : 

"Its corner st(]ne rests upim the great tiuth that the Negro 
is not ecpial to the white man; that sl;i\er\'. subordination to 
the superior race, is his natural and moral condition." This, 
our new government, is the first in the historx- of the world, 
based upon this gre.at i)hysical, philos()])hical and moral truth. 
The truth has been slow in the process of its development,; 
like all other truths in tlie various departments of science. 

The Negro, by nature, or by the curse against Canaan, is 
fitted for that condition w hich he occupies in our system. For 
His own ]jurposes <lo<I has ni;i<le one race to differ from an- 
other, as He has made 'one star tn difl'iT from another star 
in glory." " Tt is but fair to state here that while this s])eech 
was applauiled by his hearers, it aroused much bitterness 
against .Stejihens among manv Southerners who did not take 
such an extreme view . 

The threatening war cloud hung over the land when Presi- 
dent Lincoln was inauguarated and took the oath of office. 
A ])lot was laid to assassinate him on his way to the Capital. 
On the sixth of April, iX('>i, to the Commissioners of the Se- 
ceding .States, who called upon him. Secretary of .State 
Seward said that the ( iovernment w"uld not acknowledge 
them in their official capacity : that in the events which had 
recently occurred he saw "a per\ersion of a temjior.-irv .and 



550 II 'oiks and Talks .{houl fUsforir Boston. 

partisan excilcnK-nt to tlie ]jurpose of an unjustifiable and 
uncnnstitutional a.t,'^rressioii upon the authority of the Fed- 
eral I lovernmcnt. and not a ri£:;htful and successful revolu- 
ti(in, and an independent nation with an established sjovern- 
ment." To the \'ir<:jinia dele.yatiim who called upon him 
abiiul the same time, President Lincoln was equally plain 
and e\|)licit. When asked what course he intended to pur- 
sue toward the Confederate States, he replied that he should 
adhere to the plan marked (lut in his inau.s^ural. The power 
confided in him he should use to hold, occupy and possess 
pro])erty and places belonging- to the Government. If an 
assault was made upon Fort Sumter, as had been threatened, 
he should use every means at his command tii repossess it. 
In any event he should repel force bv force. 

Majdr R(]1iert .\ndersnn was in l"(irt Moultrie in ( h.irlcstdn 
Harbor, with a mere handful of men, two companies of the 
First I'nited States .\rtillery and nine musicians, a total of 
se\ent>-li\e enlisted men. On the night of December 2f), 
i8(')(), lie transferred this force to Fort .Sumter, spikin,g the 
guns of ]"ort Moultrie as he left. The State authorities at 
once seized u]>on b'ort Moultrie and all the other forts in the 
liarbor, except Fort .Sumter, and also took possession of the 
V . -S. .\rsenal. Post Otifice and Custom House in the City of 
Charleston. They threw up fortifications on Morris Island, 
extinguished the coast ,ind harbor lights, and removed the 
heavy Inioys from the channel to jjrevent the sending of 
supplies and reinforcements to Fort Sumter. Towards the 
close of his administration. President Puchanan made a little 
show of loyalt)-. and upon the departure of some of the con- 
spirators from his Cabinet, replaced them with true Union 
men, among them the lion. John .\. Dix, whose f.amous nies- 
s;ige will li}ng live in Americati history: "Shoot the first man 
who hauls down the .\merican flag.'' .\n effort was made to 
send supplies and reinforcements to the suffering garrison 
at Fort Sumter. The steamer "Star of the West," was de- 
sp.itched from X'ew ^'ork, and arrived off Charleston. Janu- 
ar\ I), iSm. just ,is she was entering the inner harbor all 
the soldiers were s^-nt below, leaxing onl\' the working crew 
on deck, nd she endea\-oreil under the guise of .i ]ieacefnl 
merchant vessel to reach Fort ."-^umter. 

Put the deception was of wn a\ail. The insiu-gents were 
awaiting her arriv.al. The Charleston Mercur\- had been ad- 
\ised of her sailing ami the object of her vowige. Secretarv 



Walks aiul Talks .lh„iit Historic Boston. 3Si 

Tlioiuiisnii, a nR'm1)cr nf rrfsidcnt I'.uclianaii's Cabinet, over 
his o\\ n sii,niatiirc, said : "As I was writing my resignation, 
I sent a despatcli to Judge Longstreet that the 'Star of the 
West' was coming with reinforcements." ITe ordered a mes- 
senger to telegraph the State authorities at Charleston, "Blow 
the 'Star of the West' out of the water," Init the messenger 
was more loyal than his master and withheld the des]iatrh. 
When the "Star of the West" wa> within two nu'li's of Torts 
Sumter and Moultrie, and wholK unsuspicious of danger, a 
masked battery on Morris Island, only three-(|narters of a 
nu'le distant. o|)ened lire upon her. 

While the American flag was flying from her fore, the 
heavy balls were flying over her deck and through her rig- 
ging. The steamer was unarmed and as all on board were 
in danger of destruction or cajiture. the captain turned the 
vessel's bow oceanward, and returned to X'ew "^"ork. The 
garrison in I'^rt Sumter had received no aclvice^ from the 
Govermueut. Major .Xnderson's luail and des|iatches came 
b_\- way of Charleston, and on se\eral occasions these were 
opened I)y the .'-^tate authorities in th.at cit\-. 

THF. F.M.I. OF FORT SCMTFR. 

.\t ihe close of March. lX<il. there were jooo men and 
T20 camion menacing Major .Anderson and his brave little 
garrison. The spiked guns of h'ort Moultrie had ln-en re- 
stored to good order and others added to them. Six batteries 
had been erected on Sullivan's Island, all bearing on Fort 
Suiuter. There were batteries, also, on Mt. Pleasant and 
James Island. .\11 tlie sandv shores of Morris, Sullivan and 
James Islan<ls were dotted with fortifications, twenty in 
number, armed with hea\y guns and well manned. .\ for- 
midable floating liattery, designed and built by a deserter 
from the U. .S. uav\', was placed in ]iosition. ready for the 
assault when it should be f)rdered. I-'or three weary months. 
Major Anderson saw these preparations going on, without the 
power or authority to strike a single blow, r.urli.anan's ])ol- 
icv with the insurgents had been tem])oriziug and vacillating, 
and thus Major Anderson was compelled to keep his guns 
muzzled while treason flourished, and the old flag was in- 
sulted. His situation during all this time was full of anxiety 
and perplexity. FIs g.arrison toiled and suffered and his 
stock of provisions was running \ery low. He could get 



53-' Walks iiiiil Talks About Historic Boston. 

nothins^ in tlif \va\- of siip])lies or re-enforcements from the 
government t>\ \\;i\" of tlie sea, as the insurg-ents commanded 
tlie harlxjr, and in Charleston, he could only procure a lim- 
ited amount of provisions, and even these were obtainable 
only at the will of the State authorities. The crisis at last 
came, ( )n the eighth of .\pril, i86t. President I.incoln sent 
official notice to Governor Pickens of South Carolina, that 
sup]ilies would be conveqed to Fort .Sumter at all hazards. 
This despatch set Charleston into a fever of excitement. 
From Montgomery, .Alabama, the head(|uarters of the Con- 
feder.ite GoNernment, came the order to General P>eatire- 
gard, in command at Charleston, to demand the surrender 
of F(irt .Sumter. This was on the tenth of .\pril. C)n the 
ele\enth, P.eauregard sent three members of his stafif to Fort 
Sumter with a letter to Major Anderson, in which he con- 
\eyed a demand for the evacuation of the fort. Major .'Xn- 
defsnii had. for some time, expected sucli a demand and re- 
jilieil tli.at his sense of honor and olili^.ation to his Government 
would not allow him to comply. At the same time he in- 
formed Peauregard's aids, verbally, that the condition of his 
supplier was such that he would be compelled by menaces of 
star\ation to leave the fort in a few days. After further 
negotiations, in order to prevent bloodshed, he agreed to evac- 
uate the fort by noon of the fifteenth, .should he not previous 
to that time "receive controlling instructions from his Gov- 
ernment or addition.'d ^u]>plies."' The ( lo\-''rnnient was mak- 
ing |)re)iarations to relieve Fort Sumter. The steamer Baltic 
and the L\ S. ships Powhatan. Pawnee. Pocahontas and 
ll.arriet Pane, and the tugs Yankee. Freeborn and Uncle 
S'm. were fitted out with orders to rendezvous oflf Charles- 
ton. 

The P.altic. Pawnee and Harriet Pane reached Charles- 
ton Pay on the morning of April T2tli. but Major Anderson 
was not aware of the relief close at hand. The conspirators, 
however, were thoroughly informed. When the scouts of 
Pe.iuregard informed him that these LT. S. vessels were out- 
side the bar. his deni;infl for the surrender of Fort Sumter 
became immediate and imperative, and as Major Anderson 
still refused to cfimjily. the first gun was fired against Fort 
Sumter on the twelfth from a battery on James Island. The 
sound of that mortar was the signal for battle along the line. 
.\.s we lia\e before remarked the insurgents mmibered sev- 



JJ'atks and Talks About Historic Boston. 553 

cral tlKnisands while t1ic yarrison numliercd less than ei£rlit\' 
men. "The odds were fearful, hut leaning trustfully on the 
nrni of the Almighty, the cnniniander determined to resist." 
The firing of the insurgent batteries became more and more 
accurate and began to tell uiion the walls and parapet of the 
fort, .^ome of the barbetle guns were dismounted and the 
barracks were set on fire by the enemy's red hot shot. 
IVTeanwhile the little garri.son turned their eyes often and anx- 
iously towards the sea, hoping and praying for relief. At 
noon Surgeon Crawford descried thrdugh the mist, \-essels 
bearing the dear old flag. 

rUn the buuNs in the channel had all been removed, a 
blinding storm was raging and the \essels could not cross 
the l)ar. The hours wore heavily away. The supply of am- 
munition began to fail: food and drink were served to the 
bra\e little band .is they stood and worked at the guns. Be- 
fore sunset all their guns but six had been abandoned. The 
ne.xt morning broke clear and fine and the insurgents re- 
newed the bombardment with increased \igor and added 
terrors. Red hot shot was rained into the fort, and four 
times the liuildings had been set on lire, and each time the 
flames had been extinguished. .\t last the barracks were ig- 
nited and the garrison was powerless to save them. To have 
attempted it would ha\e cost many [irecious lives. The 
flames spread and the situation became more and more dis- 
tressing. The heat was lieconiing intolerable, and as the fire 
was rapidly approaching the magazine, it became necessarv 
to close and lock the door. The dense columns of flame and 
smoke that rose high above the fort, gave notice to the in- 
surgents that its inmates were in a heated furnace ; and yet 
they inhumanly incr a>ed the fury of the attack from all 
((uarters. The garrison were frequently compelled to lie 
upon the ground with wet cloths upon their faces to prevent 
suffocation by smoke. "S'et they would not surrender, the 
old flag was still tlying. On the 14th of .\pril further resist- 
ance became impossible, and negotiations having again been 
ojiened b\- a flag of truce. Major Anderson accepted the terms 
which had lieen ofl'ered before the hostilities, namely, the de- 
parture of the garrison with company, arms and property, 
and all private properly and the privilege of saluting and 
retaining the fla.g. "When the llag was lowered at the close 
of the salute, the garriscm in full dress left the fort and em- 



534 n\ilks and Talks Aboul Historic Boston. 

liarkc.l ..n tlu- Isahrl. the hanil playin- -W^inkw 1)..m,1U-.- 
The fort was evacuated, not surrendered. The fla,<,r liad 
been lf)\vereil not given up, dishonored but not captured. 
Major Anderson and his httle band sailed for Mew ^'ork. 
Precisely four years from that date, Major General Robert 
Anderson raised tliat war-wcjrn flat;- over all that remained of 
Fort Sumter. The t.ill of I'dn Sumter was the npenin,!j act in 
the long- and bloody drama of the Ci\il War. As the tele- 
.sjrai)h flashed the tidings over the land, there was the most 
intense excitement. President Lincoln at once issued a call 
for 75,000 armed men tn ";iid in suppressiiiL; rebellion." All 
over the Xortli. there wav a i|nick response t(i this truni])et 
call, for the defence and maintenance of the I'liicin. .^tich a 
|.;ranil iiprisint^' of .threat ])eople was never before witnessed. 
Men, wiimen and children felt the enthusiasm. I'ulitical ani- 
mosities were fori^otten, reli.L,nims differences vanished, all 
hearts were united in the .>ne L;reat bond nf patriotism. The 
flai; was exerywhere ihsplaxed from places of business, public 
Ijuildini^s, church towers and the homes, alike of ricli ami 
poor. In the larne cities there were fla,ij;- raisings in the Inisi- 
ness districts, where thousands gathered and listened to the 
apjjeals (j| elo(|uent speakers an<l the music of militarv bands, 
playing patriotic airs. .\ little later, when war settled down 
upon the nation, there were enlisting offices where the men 
who foi-niei] the grand union arnu signed the "muster rolls" 
and from whence they went forth to light for their country, 
singing as they marched. 

"We are coming, l^ither .Abraham, bv Pichniond's bloodv tide, 
To la\ Us down foi' freedom's sake, our brotlu-rs' bones 
'bes.de." 

And the\ kept marching on until their m,-irtial tread shook the 
C(jntinent ami the thunder of their artillerv was heard around 
the world. 



fil?aS£>arf)iisrtr3 .inn iDOSfon in tf)f Cibtl UAur 

The sill it tlial was (ircd at I'nrt SiunttT was the siyiial 
for tlu- ;^rcatcst ]n;pular uprising;" the world has ever seen. 
'IMie news of the evacuation of the fort reached Koston mi 
Sunday, and no one of the present generation can imagine 
the intense excitement it ])roduced. 

A patient and long' sulterinL;" penplc were aroused to a 
wliite heat of indignation. 

l-"rcnn e\ rr\ public building, from the s|nrcs of cluirche> 
and frnni innumerable pri\ate residences, the .stars and 
.stripes were thing to the breeze. .\s one writer sa_\s. "the 
fife and drum was heard in the streets, and recruiting offices 
were opened in vacant st(.ires. or in tents hastily pitched in 
the ])ublic s(piares. .\11 sorts and conditions of men left 
their business and ste])ped into the ranks, and in ;i few 
(lavs, the C.overnment was offered several times as m,-in\- 
troops as had ijeen called for. I'.oys of 15 sat do\s 11 .md 
\ve]>t. because thev were not ix-rmitted to go. but here .and 
there one dried his tears when he was told he might go as 
a drummer, or as an officer's servant. Everybody seemed 
anriotis to put forth some e.xpression of loyalty to the Na- 
tional » 'io\ernnient and the .Starry Mag." 

( )n .Monday. .April 15. 1861, President Lincoln issued a 
call for 73.000 militia from the several .States, "to supi)ress 
tjie combination a.gainst the laws, and to cause the laws 
to be duly executed." There was no wavering, no uncertain 
sound in that famous document, atul it met with ;'. re- 
sponsixe thrill in every loyal heart. 

The (io\ernor of Alassachusetts at the outbreak of tiie 
war was John Albion .Andrew, who was born in Windham, 
Maine, ^fay ,^i. 1818. He graduated at llowdoin College 
in 1837. studied for the law and was admitted to the bar 
in 1840. Coming to Massachusetts to make his permanent 
home, he became intenselv interested in the anti-slavery 
movement, and rendered legal services in fugitive slave 
cases. Having been elected to the House of Representa- 
tives of Massachusetts in iS^S, and haxing been a delegate 



556 



Walks iiiul Talks Aboiil Historic Boston. 



to the Repulilican Cunvcntii in which iiuiiiiiiated Alu'aham 
Lincohi for the l're^i(lcnc\■ in iSOo, he was elected in Xo- 
veinber of that year (uiverni ir of Alass-icliusetts. His 
services as I'loxerncir fn ini iSM t>i iS's, enihracin<' tlie 




./../,„ 1. A,„lr, , 



period ..f tlie Ci\il War, were di^char-ed with the utmost 
hdility. and he was .iften a Cdunselur (if I 'r; >ident Lincohi 
in aliairs . .f State. lie was constantK' ur^int;' iijion the 
National i i. ixeiainient the im]>ortance nf cnlistint;- colored 
troops and fina!l_\- had his desire t;ratified in the authority 
i;i\en him t'j enlist twd rei^inients in Massachusetts, the 



Walks ,111,1 l.ilks .Ihoul Historic H„sl,,ii. ■:,:-.7 

54th and the 55th, wlmni !u- hade (iod -]icid a^ tlicv left 
I'lir tlic seat nf war. The fniiner under the tjaUant l\<jbert 
Gould Shaw made a l>ra\'e as'^aiilt mii l'"iirt Warner, S'lnth 
Cariilina. 




'-./.,»,■/ /,'.-/,. /■/ a, ml, I Sl„i 



This was the thst nf tlu- . 
in the Xurth fcir >cr\ iee in 
detcmined in select f. n' <it"lie( 
the very Ijest material that 
ehusetts \'olunteer Service. 



edged military abilit}- and e.\])erie!U-e. nf the hi<.;liest 



nhired regiments tu he rai>e(l 
the war. (Governor .\ndrew 

rs (if these colored retj'inients. 

■indd he fduiid in the Massa- 
The\ ^hiiuld he 01 ackmiwl- 
;ial 



IToIks and Talbs About Historic Boston. ^S'> 

position, it pn'^sihU'. in liu- Stair, and uilmi wlin lu'lirv od 
in the capacity nf cul.ircd men t'l ni,d<c ^mikI soldier^, lie 
inimediatelv tixi-d n|iiin Ivilicrl i i. .'~^li.i\\, fur Cdlniud uf 
the Fifty-l-'oiu^th. lie was a captain in the .s^ciund kcyi- 
Hient, AFassachnst-tts Infantry, a i^cnilcnian i>f cdncatinn. 
a hraxe officer, and cunnccted hy l)l()iid and inairiaL;c with 
cine (if the nhh-sl ,ind nmst respect.alile f;nnihes in tlie Sl.ate, 
(.'aptain Slia\\ was rehexed fi'i mi his cninniand, and c.une to 
I'lOSton til sn|iei"intend the recrnitinL; "f tile reyinienl . 

In less than mie hnndred <lay> it was tilled In the ni.i\i- 
niunt. There were so many otliers who desired to enlist that 
it was decided to raise another regiment and this (the 55th) 
was also rapidiv filled. The 34th was ordered to South Caro- 
lina and emlKirked on the jSth uf May. iSfi:;, on hciard the 
Tniled States tr.inspiirt, 'he .\l(ila\." 

In the passage thnnii^h I'.nstun it recei\ed a splendid iiva- 
tion. hut the men kejit close r.inks. nut a man left his place, 
not a stratjt^ler was seen. Twn snns ■ if h'rederick hnn^lass 
the colored orator, wercJ in the ranks: the father himself was 
present to witness the flejiartnre of his sons. 

In less than twn ninnths this rej;"iinent ])articipateil in that 
deadh- and nnsnccessful assault im I'ort Wagner in .Simth 
Carolina, led Iiy their gallant ( ulnnel. whn was instantl\- killed. 
T.ecanse he ciiinmanded colnred tninps he was intensely haled 
hy the Confederates and they I'linlishlx thonLdnt they had dis- 
honored him, when, as the\ pruclaimed. they had buried his 
hiidy "in a ])it under a hea|i uf his niggers." Colonel Shaw- 
is immortalized in his nati\e cit\ hy the Sh.iw Alenidrial. mi 
lieacon .Street, ojijiosite the Stale I louse. 

(iiivernnr .Andrews was a wise, f.ir seeing- ( ii i\ crm m. lie 
early discerned the comniL; .-ipjic-d to arms, and for some 
months jirevious to the I 'resident's cdl, he had liegun to re- 
cruit, arm and ei|ni]i the .^l.ite .Militia. When th.-it call c,-nne 
Massachusetts had thirteen thousand men ready, not only lo 
g'o to the front, hut to furnish their own can-ip e(|uii>age and 
rations. Four thousand of them responded to the first call for 
three months' \-iilunteiTs, The first regiment to start for 
\\'ashina;ton was the Si.xth Regiment, L'olonel I'Mward \'. 
Jones commanding-, which left lioston .\]iril 17. iSdi, only 
three days after the fall of h'rjrt Sumter. 

The passa,ge of the train hearing this regiment was one long 
ovation from I'.oston to I'hiladelphia. .\t the latter city, as at 
New York, the men were received with enthusiastic hospi- 



56o 



H'alks and I'alks .Ihoiil Historic Boston. 



tality. welcomed, fed and plied with j^ood thint;"s, for their 
already overstocked haversacks: aii<l it liegan to seem as 
though war was a continuous picnic. At least until the de- 
fence of Washington should begin, they were under no appre- 
hension of trouble. lUit before them was Baltimore. 

On approaching that city. Ajiril i()th. the anniversary of the 
battle of Lexington, the dfficers were warned that the passage 
of the regiment through that cit\- would be forcibly opposed 
by a mob, which had already collected and was marching 
through the citv with a secessifin flag. Colonel Jones ordered 
aiiimunitiiiii to lie dislrilmtcd. ,ind pas-ing thrnugh the cars 




in |iersnn. he warned the men thai they were to pav no atten- 
tion to ahuve, or even nli^siU■s. ami that if it liecanie necessary 
for tlu-ni to tire on the mob, tlir\- would receive orders to that 
etiect from the Commander. 

'I he passage of trains through Baltimore at that jieriod was 
l)y horse power across the city from one depot to another 
The horses being quickly attachetl, as soon as the locomotive 
was taken otT. cars carrying about two-thirds of the regiment 
were drawn rapiilly over the route, but to intercept the re- 
maining four c(_impanie,s, the mob liarricaded the tracks, and 
it became necessary for those to abandon the cars, and cover 
the remaining distance f)n foot. .\t once they became the tar- 
get for showers of stones thrown by the mob, and in order to 
lessen the need of armed resistance, the officers gave the order 



Walks mid Talks .llunil llistanc Boston. ?'" 

to "double iiuiok." Il was a niislakc, Imt a cuninion (iiic, when 
citizen soldiers are dealini; willi a nmli, the most merciful, as 
well as the wisest cunrse. heiiii; to scatter the ui' >1j jiroinptly. 
The niub thou.^ht they had the tn"i])s cm the run. and were 
encouraged to believe that they either dared not shout, nr 
that thev were without ;uniinuiiti< mi. Then the oi-(Ur tu 
"fire" was given to the trcM.ps. and several of the cmwd, 
rioters and spectators, fell. The Ma\<ir .if Baltimore joined 
the officers at tlie head nf the culuinn to give his anth<irit\ 




-itilSSf 






iM.- 




— «« 



t.i Us progress, and .alsd to tell the <ifficers i<> defend them- 
selves. 

insteadi ni being faced ahcuit to coufroiu the mob, the 
troojjs were inarched steadil\ furward. tnrihng about as they 
advanced, and delivering .a desultoi-y fire, which, however, did 
not deter the mob from continuing the attack. The regi- 
ment'.s los.s was four killed and thirty-six wounded. The men 
were furious over the affair, and it rec|uired all the authority 
of the Colonel to keep them from leaving the cars and taking 
vengeance on lialtimore for the death of their comrades. They 
were the first whole rcLjiment to .arrive in Washington in re- 
sponse to the call nf the President and they were (|uartere(l 
in the United States Senate (.'hamber. 

During the war IJoston res])onded ])roniptly to every call 
for men, or nionev. and sent of her citizens into the .\rm\ and 



5C'-' Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

Xavy. 26.110 men. (if whom 685 were commissioned officers. 
In the sanitary work the Boston people, tlie women pre-emi- 
nently, were among; the foremost and most active. 

Fur four long- years, like every large city. Boston was in a 
constant state of excitement. Her rejoicing at the close of 
the war in 1865 was turned into mourning by the death of 
President Lincoln. In common with the other great cities of 
the North, Boston gave expression to the universal feeling of 
grief by a funeral procession of great length. 

"The Militia Regiments of Massachusetts were the first to 
res])ond to the call of the President : the first to march through 
Baltimore ti> the defense of the Capitol; the first tij shed their 
blood for the maintenance of the government: the first to open 
up a new route to Washington, by way of Anajiolis; the first 
to land on the soil of A'irginia.and hold possession of tire 
most important fortress in the Union: tlie first to make the 
voyage of the Potomac, and approach the Federal city by 
water, as they had lieen the first to reach it 1)\- lanil. The 
soldiers of Massachusetts did their duty and the natinn ciwes 
tlieni a ibdit nf gratitude which can never 1ie repaid." 




rlir /!.,//.s- in III II, W In. Sill-iil 11,1 I 



tifjc Bops in Slur iL\i)o ^aUrD tljc anion 

lLoni]iik-d frtJin ihc "I'.dSlun i ilolic" li\ |)cnnis^ion, ) 

TIiL' war for the L'llidii was the L;rcati'st war .if the Kjth 
century. In that conflict larger armies iiarticipaieil, more 
l)ersistent energy was disiilayed, more sanguinary battles 
were fought, losses were nn ire a]i]>allin^ in extent, the cost 
was vastly excessive, and no issue ^\•as more decisive. 

Twenty States with a ixjpulation of 20,000,000 ijenple and 
hacked hy an aggregate wealth of $11,000,000,000 faced 10,- 
000,000 people in 11 States, with ;i wealth of alxuit $5,000,- 
000,000 to recognize the integrit\- of the I'mon. 

< )ut of that strnggle emerged a greater natinn and a 
str.mger lin itherJKK kI. 

The ['nicin States put imtn the held arinie- numbering 
J.StIj.i^J men, w hi 1 fur fnui' lung years cunfii uited Confed- 
erate armies .iggreg.iting I ,J34,ooo. Xnt (ince until the end 
did the ii]ip(iNing armies Inosen the grip mi the 1 ither's 
throat. Twii thnusand twn huntlred .and siNl\-iine cnntlicts 
occurred. 

The Iniiiu .Vrmies hist in l<illed in b.ittle and in death 
from disease 359,258. I'urther lusses in wnnnded and miss- 
ing, (142, ,^48, brought the tutal u|i tn 001.87''. 

Heaths from \\'ounds ,ind disea'-e in the t'l mfederate 
.\rm\ numbered i:;,^,8ji. and nthcr li i-.'-es in missing and 
captured aggregated i)8(),7c|i. 

I In the Inion side one m.ui in '15 wa-~ killed in action: 
(ine in 50 died fri mi wcumds; mie in I :; cbed (if disease; one 
in 15 w,Ls captured • ir re|Hirtecl missing; luie in ro was 
w I lundeil in actii m. 

President Lincoln issued 11 dilt'erent calls fur troo|)s, 
aggregating the eunrniiins number nf 2,(175.0(10, and e\ en 
more than this number tddk up arms in resjKinse. The 
;irnn nf the I'nited States, which < m .\pril 1. l8(ii, num- 
bered i'i..V'7 (itticers .and men, increased li\ leaps and 
bduiids thniuglKinl the war, and at the end the ( lovernment 
had l,ix)0,5r'i troops under arms. 

In ten weeks .after sc.essi,in the I '( m federate States h.ad 



Il'dlks and Talks About flisturic Boston. 



assfnil)Ifd ii2.cx)0 nicn. 'I'lic niaximuin of Loiifcilcralo in 
arms, 48l,(X)0. was ruaclicd jamiar\ i, [i<(^. A M-ar later 
tlie army was smaller liy 50.000. aii<l it rapidh (1\'\ iiiilK'il in 
the iK'xt three nidUths. 

On both sides the armies were CMmpused i<\ the huxs of 
.\merica. .Yearly half the I'niiin soldiers were from farms, 
and another ([narter from mills and shops. It was a light 
eompIexi(jned ami}-, nearly half of them witlt blue eyes, a 
(piarter with gray, ;ind less than one-fiftli dark. Tliev aver- 
aged 5 feet 7 ,V4 imdies in height, the Kentnckians leading 
with an avera.^e height .if 5 feet S _V4 inches.. Connecticut 
soldiers were i>\ the lowest stature, 3 feet (> 1-2 inches. ( )ut 
of I.OOO.ooo recorded nieasnrements, .^,'113 were o\er (1 feet 
,^ inches, and among them were some over 7 feet. Soldiers 
.from the whole army wmdd have .given regiments of tall 
men sur|)assing the famous giatit guards of Frederick the 
( Ireat. 

The men were paid .Si.^ a month in greenbacks, which at 
one time were worth less th.an 40 cents on tlie dollar, or 
hardly more than S3 for a month's pay. 

(Gettysburg was the .greatest battle of the war. .\ntietam 
was the bloodiest. The Confederates assembled their largest 
arm}- — 04.CV''^ effective men — at the seven days' battle, and 
never afterwards led its like. Cirant led the largest L"nion 
.\rm\' — I 18.700 ettective men — at the Wilderness. There 
were lu battles in which one sicle or the other lost over 
300 killed and wounded. Theie were 1 .S82 general engage- 
ments, b.attles, skirmishes in which ;it least one regiment 
|)arlicipated. '!"he 3th X'ew Ilani|ishire lnfantr\' sustained 
the greatest loss of any infantry regiment, 2()^ from battle 
wounds and 178 from disease, a total death list of 47,^ 'J'lie 
1st Maine Cavalrv sustained the greate-^t loss of any cavalry 
regiment in the arm\'. 174 men de.id Irom b.altlc wounds 
and ,U4 from dise.isr. ;i total d<-ath roll of 31S. The ist 
Maine lleaw \rtillir\ -ulTered the L;re,-ite-t I0-- of an\ 
regimental organi/alion in the arnu . 4.'^ dead from wounds 
and _>r>o from di-ea-e. ,1 tot.al death roll of (iS;v 

Xativit\- of the soldiers--\.-iti\c born. 73 ]ier cent; C,er- 
nianw 8 :;-4 per cent; Ireland. 7 l-J per cent; l-'ngkand. 
2 !-_' ]ier ceiU : llriti^h \nieric,i. j i-_' per cent ; other coun- 
ti-i^--^. .^1 y-i 1"T cent. 

Massachusi-tt< furnished 1 32. 048— 1 ^,000 m< .re tlian her 
fpiota. 



566 iralks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

< ictt_\sl)iirj;- lias licen uftfii (•(]ni]iarr(l with tlic battle of 
W atciioo. Tlu'v were tlu- twn nmst (k'cisi\i.- hattk-s of the 
aye. 

Waterloo 

Troops Engaged — Allies, 72,000 ; Irench. 80,000. 
Guns — Allies, i8(5: French, 2^2. 
Losses — Allies. 2:5,185; h^rench, 20,300. 

Gettysburg 

Troops Engaged — L'nion, 83, 28(1; Confederate, 72,054. 
Guns — Union, 300; L'l lutedcrate. 250. 
Losses — I'nion, 23,041); ( 1 mlCdei-ate, 2.S,o02. 

The Total Cost of the War to the Union 

(.'urrent expense-. — I'.inintie-. nther tlian J'"e<le'al. private 
eiiiitriliiitidns. Inss of soldiers' ]ir(iducti\e lalinr. war chiims,. 
interest .ind ]jensii)ns, was 80,0,^2,1X5.07. 

The Navy's Glorious Part 

Idle .\a\ y was engaged in O5 battles during the war. At 
the (lutbreak of hostilities the eiinillnieiit of officers and 
men aygregrated 7,600, which befme the war closed was 
swelled to 132,554. There were I ,S24 killed or mortally 
wiiunded in action, of wIkhii 342 were --calded to death by 
escaping steam from biiilers pierced 1)\ the enemy's shot, 
and 308 men were drowned. 

Tiit.il n,i\al l(is--es were — Killed in .iction, 1,804; \vound- 
ed, 2,22(1; died fruni disease and accidents, 3,000; total, 
7,c_.30. 

The most inipiirtant na\:d engagement ti 1 tlu' world at 
l.irge w;is the b;ittle March S, 18(12, lietweeii the .Monitor 
:ind the ( diifeder,-ite ironclad '" Aleri-imac, the t<\-< battle 
in the world between ironcla(L, fcir that il.iy >,iw the doom 
of all existing na\al shijis then in the wurld. The most 
famous engagement occurred June ig. 18(14. se\en miles 
olT ('lierbourg, l'r;ince, when the I'. S. S. Kears.arge en- 
gaged and sank the Confederate prixateer Alabama, udiich 
was built and fitted out in England. The engagement lasted 
one hour and two minutes. In size, armament and number 
of crew, the conibat;ints were \ ery evenly matched. 

The last infaiitrv \iilley of the \v;ir w ,-is tired \pril 0. 
18(15. b\- the 24th ,\rmy ("orps to cut otf the retreat of Lee 
at L'luxer lldl, near \|ipom;ittiix, \'a. 



U'albs iiiut I'alks About llisturic Boston. 



567 



Ccncral Lee Minx-iidcicd Apnl 14. 1X1)5. 

The last .surremler ui tlic war was May _'(). i.SOj. l)y 
General Kirbv Smith at I'.aton Runye, l.a. 

I'eace rroclaniation issued May 0. iS(i5, by rres.dent 
Inhnson. 




iLinroUVG (3rtt>'0l)iirg 9DlJrr0Q 

" I'Viurscdrc aii<l m'xch \ oar> aL;ii, our l'atlu-r> l)i"uusj;ht 
forth (HI this coiitincnt a nation cunceixed in liiiort}' and 
dedicated ti^ the |)i-(i|)(isili(in that all men are cri'ated eqnal. 

"XdW wc are enL;aL;ed in a L;reat ci\il war. te^tinu; wheth- 
er that nation, or an\' nation s(j eoneei\ed and ^o dedieated. 
can loni;- endnre. We arc met on a i^reat hattleiield ui that 
war. We ha\e come to dedicate a iiorti<in of that field as 
a final resting;- ])lace for those who here ^ave their li\'es that 
the nation miL;ht li\e. It is alto.£;"ether fitting; and proper 
that wc should do this. I'.ut in a lari.;"er sen^r wx- cannot 
dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot liallow this 
grtnmd. The l)ra\e men. li\inL; and dead, who siru;.;L;led 
here, have consecrated it, far alio\c our ]>oor |io\\cr to add. 
or detract. The world will little note, ikh- Ioul; remember 
what we sa\- here, hut it can ne\er forL;et what thev .iid 
here. It is ['(jr us. the li\ ini;. rather t<i he dedicated here to 
the i^re.it task remainiuL; helore us. th.at from th.esc honored 
dead we take iuci'eascd de\(ition to th.it cause for which 
the\ j;,-ive the Last full measm-e (if (kwotion, that we liere 
hi^hlv resdhe that these dead shall not li,a\f died in \:iin 
— that this nation, under ( lod, shall ha\e a new hirth of 
freedom, and that ;^o\crumcnt of the people, by the peoide. 
and ior the ]ieople shall not |ierish fr(jm the earth." 

".\ martyi" t(j the cause of man. 
Ills blood is I'reedom's cucliarist, 
.\n(l on the world's L;reat hero list 
Mis name sh.all lead the van. 

"\'ea. raised on laith's white \vinL;s unturled 
In I leaven's pure li,u;ht, of him we say. 
He died upon the self-same da\ , 
A arreater died to save the world '." 



iLiiuoln lUib tt)r ^olbirrs 

From the i>utM-l, AlnalKini Linoilii \\a^ llu- ptTsiuial 
Iriciul (if cviTv siildicr In- st-nt tci the liniit. and xiinclmw 
;vfr\ man sornu-d Ic knnw il. X'.. d.inl.l it w.i- .m l.mculn's 




/.//(..,;„ „»,/ Ihr N.,/,/r 



\-isit^ til tile rani]!-' around W a^lunL;ti in. in tlu' early da>'S 
<if the war, that tlie Imdy ..f the -oldierv i^ct this idea. They 
never f.ir^nt his friendK hand-elas]!, his iu-arty "( iiid bless 
\-(in." his remcinsirance ai^ainst snnie til'teen-year-old lioy 



?;<> Walks ami Talks .lb, nit Historic Boston. 

masi|ULTadiny' as t\vciit\', his jucular re-marks about tlie 
height of some soldier towering above his own six feet four. 
When, later, he visited the Army of the Potomac on the 
Rappahannock and at Antietam, these im])ressions (jf his 
interest in the personal welfare of the soldiers were re- 
newed. He walked down the long lines of tents or huts, 
noting the attempts at decoration, the housekeeping con- 
veniences, replying l)y smiles and nods and sometimes A\ith 
words to the greetings, rnu^h and hearty, which lie re- 
ceived. He in(|uired into e\ery ]iha^e of camp life, and the 
men knew it. and said to one another. "He cares for us; 
he make^ mj tight, but he care^." He was ncjt onl\- the 
Commander-in-L'hief eif all the armies of the L'nited States, 
he was the father of the army, and never did a man lietter 
deserve a title than did he the one the soldiers ga^"e him — 
■■|\itlier Abraham.'"— ■'Life of Lincoln," by Ida M. T.-irbell. 




ii 1 iilli'ii Foigc 



an Illinois §)oItiicr at tf)r Jruncinl of 
flbriUjiun 2.iiiro(n 

Rev. Frank J'«. Crcssey uf Cainl)ri<li;o. Alassacluisctts, was 
a. private of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment, 
Illinois Volunteers, lie was grossly cheated out of a First 
Lieutenancv after enlisting over fifty men, but went into 
the ranks. His father, the Chaplain of the .'second Minnesdta 
Reeiment, and fnur hrMtluTs. were alsn in the Union Armv, 




making six from oiu- faniil\. .Mr. t'ressey wa> mustered into 
and out of the .\rmy at ."^iiringfield. Illinois, the home of 
Abraham Lincohi. 1'he day before the assassinated Presi- 
dent's entombment, .Mr. Cressey went to Springfield to be 
present at the funeral. Thousands had ajready arrived on 
a isimilar errand of grief and respect. The funeral car was 
still at the railroad station, draped, as during its long .ind 
devious way of journey, in the emblems of death and a 
Nation's overwhelming sorrow. The bod\ had been re- 
moved to the Hall of Representatives in the State House, 
where it lav in state. Huring luore than a day of twent\- 
four hours the people p;i^sed liy looking on the face of the 

ri7i 



57- Walks and Talks .Ihoiit Historic Boston. 

dead, riirt-c tiiiK's, f< irt-iK ji m. attcrniMin and iiiidnii;lu. Air. 
Cress(.-\ jiiiiK'd tlu- dduhk- pnicussicin. whicli at times was 
several cit\ hlncks Icm.i;- and which cnntinued its tramp, 
tramp all ni^Ljht and thnmi^h thr earliest 'j^nw of the mcirii- 
\u'j^. and three times thus vaw him whci fur four \ ears hail 
led tin- Xatiiin thr.in-h threatened death to establish life. 
When the di.i(H> were finally closed that the funeral services 
he held, thousands were still in line, many, like those before 
thcni, in tears becatisc of the Xalion's licreaNcment, which was 
a personal sorrow. 

The funeral ser\iccs uver, the ])n]Cessi(in of thousands 
mo\ed to the L'emetcry, two miles distant. A brass band 
and a rej^iment and more soldiers came tirst, with deneral 
Josei)h Hooker as chief in command at their head, and 
looking;- ]irecisely as one now sees him in bronze in front of 
the .^tate Capitol in lloston. The hearse, drawn bv six coal 
black horses, covered with the clothing- of sorrow, each and 
all the finest that St. Louis could furnish, and g;iven without 
price for the ciccasion, came next, the hearse doors beinjj 
held to^^^i-tlu-r by heavy black rilil)on. on account of the 
unusual lenL;tIi of the casket, .\fter the hearse, special at- 
tend.ants, tliat no accidents should occur, then carriages 
filled mostly with ( l(.)vermiient. Army ind \av\ officials. 
Airs. Linc(jln and other relatives not being able to be pres- 
ent. Last of all were citizens liy the multitude, some in 
carriages and some on foot, the I'nited' States as a wlirile 
remlering homage to the luan \\ho had; saved the Xation. 
which souu- had tried to destroy. Arrived at the Cemetery, 
tin- casket, glittering in the sunshine like a casket of 
])recions si<ines, wris lifted upon the shoidders of eight men. 
marines from tin- \'a\y. if no mistake is made here, and 
mi 'st re\erentl\ borne within the receivi)ig \ault, the band 
meanwhile touching all hearts with its rendering of the 
"Dad March in Saul.' Then folowed singing In- a ( ierman 
Siiciet\ of St. l.ouis. followed b\ a fmieral oration by I'.ish- 
iip .Simpson of the .Methodist h'piscopal Church. Tlieu more 
lunsic, lioth vocal ,-ind instrumental, thet-i the benediction, 
and the boil\- of .\braham Lincoln was left in the silence of 
the tomb. 



I 25o£fton 

Jrs area. Citv c3obrinmrnt iinU pcrsrnt fedtinDing 

The Sliawnnn "i the Indians was named Boston, prohahly 
out of gratitude fn the merchants of Boston, in IJncohishire. 
wlio had suhscrihed t^eneron-.ly t(j the stock of the Companv 
of Massachusetts I'.ay. At a meeting; of the I'dmpany lield in 
Charlestown ( where they had estahhshed a plantation ) on 
September 17th. 1630. they "ordered that "Trimountain" sliall 
be called Boston : Mattapan, Dorchester : and the towne upon 
i harles River, 'Watertown.' ('lovernor W'inthrop chose P.os- 
tun ;is his abidiui^' place, and mi ( )ctol)er 3. 1(132. Boston was 
fiifmaljy declared to lie 'the fittest place lor pidilii|ue meetings 
of ;iny place in the I'.av.' "' 

AREA OF BOSTOX. 

I'he neck of land called Huston still called BostdU proper 
ccintained perha])s joo acre^ nf lan<l, judging from the jSt, 
acres shdwn hy the iifticial >ur\-ey of >J'>4. In the interval 
ot i'i,^<i-.i7. I'id'-tcin ac(|uired jurisdiction 1 iver most of the 
territory now included in Chelsea, Winthrop, Revere, East 
I'ld'-tun, i'.rookline, Ouincy, i^aintree, Randolph and Hol- 
liriMik. liesides certain islands in the harbor. From 1637 to 
1*140 w lien "■.Moimt W'dllastnii'" was set off as Braintree. 
I'Histun exercised jinasdiction over a territory of at least 
4(),(»o acres. Within its present limits 1 li)i'0 there are 
duly -'7.3114 acre> including llats and water. After 1(140 manv 
grants of land were made to Boston by the (General Court, 
situated in the northern and western parts of the state. Some 
of these tracts were afterwanls >dld bv the city. Xovember 
I3tii. 1703. Mudd\- Ri\er was set dff as the town of Brook- 
line anil jainiary Sth. 17311. Kunney .Marsji was set off as the 
town of ( lieBea. .Vnuexatidus df territory within the present 
limits of the Citv of I'.cistdn. have lieen made as follows: 
Xdddles' Island. East I'.dstdn. 1(137: South lloston from Dor- 
chester. 1S04: Roxbury. I S( ,S ; Dorchester, 1870: Brighton. 
1S73; ( liarlestown. 1S73; West Roxbury. if^74; Ilxde Park. 



Walks and lalks About llislonc lioslon. 575 

191 1. The orii^inal ti-ri'iiory iif I'.ustdii has liccii lari^cly in- 
creased b\' iiiailc land as liuwn by the map hereto anna\ed. 

(;0\'ERXMI-:XT OF lUJSTOX. 

The first <;civernnient of the t(i\vn of llosion was inangn- 
rate<l March 14, I'l^.S, when I _' (iverseers 1 Selectmen ) were 
clmsen. In Sei)lenilier I ' i,V'- 'hi^ number was reduced to 




nlil at, I ll<itl—\> 



nia 
the 
the 
wa 
vot 
ab< 
ver 



hi ( 
ticin 
im 
nui 
s cm 
e by 
lUt '. 
\ ea 
the 
se t 



><i r 

(instal 
lucres 

per at 

nber 

liplete 
ward 
i.OOO. 

rly in 

citizei 

nee 



enianie(l until 1700, when srxen Selectmen and 
ill's were made the tdwn's iit'ticiaK. As the pop- 
i^ed, UKjre ot-ticiaN were deemed necessary tor 
hninistration of the town's affairs, and in 175(1. 
was increased to twenty. Wlien Faneuil flail 
il the tnwn elections were held there. The first 

. was in 171JI), the population at that time beins.; 
'J'he subject of a City ("barter was agitated 

the history of the town, and it was voted upon 

IS in the \t-ars 1 71 iS, 171)4 .and in 1X13. and on 

isions public opinion was shown to be ver\ 



571' ITalks and Talks About llistonc I^astoii. 

sti-oii,i;ly a,L;ain>t il. lUit the matter ^lill coiitiinicd tu be very 
earnesfl) discussed and at la^t those fa\-oriii,L; a charter car- 
ried the day in iS_'j. An apphcatitiii was made to the Legis- 
lature I'or a C'liarter which was ailopted l)y a vote of 2y<jJ 
yeas to iS8i nays. Tlie election for city officials was held 
-Vpril Kith, resnltiiig in the choice of Jolin Phillips as Mayor, 
who recci\eil 2-,oo votes out of a total of 2650 votes cast. 
Eight Alilermcn and eight C<imicilnien were also elected and 
the inangm-al cereiiKinies took place May I, 1822. Mr. 
Phillijis was the father of Wendell I'hilhps, the great anti- 
slavery agitator, Mr. rhillii)s died the following year. Some 
of the very best citizens of I'.oston. of high standing in mer- 
cantile and professional life, have occu|)ied the Mayor's chair. 
The list is not so long as to he out of ])lace here. So well 
did tliey .acciuit themselves in that honorable and responsible 
position that a number of them served several years in suc- 
cession, b'cillow ing John I'hillips was Harrison Grav Otis, 
then Charles Wills. Thei->dore Lyman. .Samuel T. .\rnistrong, 
Samuel A. Eliot. Jouath.ati Chajnuan, Martin Briiumer, 
Thom.as .\. Davis. Josiali Oiiinc\', Jr.. John P. Bigelow, Ben- 
jaiuiii Seaver, Jerome \'. C'. ."^mith. Alexander H. Rice, Fred- 
erick W. Linc(jln, |r.. Joseph Al. W'ightiuan, <ltis Xorcross, 
Nathaniel I!. .Shiirtlett, William Gaston, Henry L. Pierce. 
Samuel L'. Cobb. I'rederick < ). Prince. Hugh O'Crien, Thomas 
X. Hart. Samuel .\. (ireen. .\lbert Paliuer. Augustus P. Mar- 
tin. .\athan Matthews. Jr.. Eilwin I', ('iirtis. Josiah Ouincy, 
Patrick .\, Collins. ( ;e<n-ge A. Uibbard. John' V. iMtzgerald 
and James M. Curley. 

The first city go\'eriuuent held its sessions in Johnson Hall. 
School .Street, and there contiiuied until 1630. when the Old 
State House was occui)ied. In 1841 they returned to their 
old quarters in lohnson Hall. .\ iiortion of b'aneuil Hall was 
also utilized for some of the cit\' offices. 

.Man\ old l'.ost<im,inN w dl recognize in tlie cut of the 1 lid 
C ity I lall. a familiar landiuark. It was built fin- a County 
Court llonse and m its day was one of the luost imposing 
bnildim^s in the town. 

lUit I'loston was growing", the City Fathers were more 
umueroiis. new departments of light and water became parts 
of the great cit\' machine and must be comfortably quartered 
under one roof, therefore a larger and more modern City 
Hall w.is a necessity. The old pictures(|ue building, solid 
and substantial, which coidd weather the blast of centuries. 



Walks and Talks About f-l istoric Bustoii. 57/ 

was tori! down soon after the coinnitncement of the Civil 
War, and the present City Hall erected on its site. It was 
built on land, originally purchased of Thomas Scott in 1645. 
The style of architecture of the present City Hall is the 












a I II Hall. Il„snni 

Italian Renaissance, modified and elaborated by the taste of 
the French architects. The building with its furniture cost 
$500,000. The front and west side are of white Concord 
granite, those of the Court Square and City Hall Avenues 
are from stone from the Old City l^lall, which it replaced. 
The corner stnne of the present City Tfall was l.-iid Decern- 



5/8 Walks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

ber 22(1. 1862. (luring- the administration of Joseph 'M, Wight- 
man. Over fifty years have elapsed and it is still an elegant 
and imposing public building. 

!\I.\Y( )RS. 

All through her historv, Huston has been famous for the 
public sjiirit of her citizens, for their intelligence and activity 
in all political matters. As a natural result party rancor has 
often ran high and the motives and acts of her ^Mayors and 
other officials have been closely scrutinized and often bitterly 
assailed. Perhaps this mav be considered a part of the pen- 
alty which a man must expect and be willing to pay when he 
enters upon the duties of the office. The real value of the 
services rendered must fre(|uently lie left U> the calm and 
impartial judgment of later generations. It is generally 
admitted today that much of lloston's prosperity is due to 
the foresight, the business sagacity and public spirit of some 
of her great Mayors, and vet the enterprises and improve- 
ments, suggested and urged by them for the betterment of 
the city, were stigmatized as '■jnbs" by their political oppo- 
nents. It was during the administration of the first Josiali 
Ouinc\-, that Ouinc\- Market was coiujileted and dedicated 
August 26, 182(1. it is today one of the greatest and best 
market buildings in the country and is admirably located for 
the purposes intended. Xot only the market building but 
the extensive improvements around it constituted it the great- 
est enterprise of the kind that had ever been undertaken in 
Boston and it was due id the remarkable energy and enter- 
prise of Josiah Ouiiicy, who. according to Drake, '"invested 
the sluggish town witli new life and l;)rought into practical 
use a new watchword, i'rogress,' "' In connection with the 
^\■(lrk of Iniilding this market six new streets were opened 
and a seventh greatly enlarged, including 167, (XX) feet of 
land, and flats, docks aii<l wharf rights obtained to the extent 
of I40.(X)0 square feet." "All this," we quote from Quincv's 
histnry, "was acci iniplislu-d in ihe centre of a ])opulous city, 
not (.)iilv without an\ tax. debt or burden u|)on its pecuniary 
resources, but with a large permanent addition to its real and 
productive property. The cost of the market buildin.g. ex- 
clusive of the land was Si3n.o(.». The cost of the market, 
land and street ami other improvements was Si. 141, 272." 

['nder another and later Josiali Ouincy the bringing of 
several railwav lines iiitu uiie grand terminal and the adjacent 



Walks Olid Talks About Historic Boston. 579 

inipnivciiK-iUs iiKiikiil llicrctn was arcomi)lislu-il. I'lic wis- 
'lipiii and tiircsiL;lu iil' this luovcnicnt is now nnivcrsally ac- 
knowlcd.s^fd. ( )llier rnturprises for tlic benefit of the citv 
in a hnsiness and artistic surise had their inception in the 
hrains of energetic and |)uhlic s])irited Mayors wlio were siip- 
jiorted ill their execution l)y puhHc sjiirited officials and citi- 
zens. Aninnij these enterprises we mention the filhng- in of 
the Hack I'.ay, the levelh'no- of Fort Hill and huikling of 
Atlantic Avcnnc, the extension of Washington Street, the 




■losinh i/', 



hnd(hnL; of the luist P.ostoti 'kiinnel atnl the Subwa_\s. and 
tlie kiying out of new parks and boulevards, making Doston 
one of the most beautiful and attractive cities in the countrx . 
She has alwavs been a great commercial centre and must 
continue to be liy reason of her unrivalled harbor and water 
comiuunications. Her ships of other days from the yards of 
those famous builders. Donald McKay of East f'.oston, and 
the liriggs of South Boston, were the finest) on the ocean and 
carried "Old (llory" into every i)art of the world, were models 
of naval architecture, and the s])eediest sailing vessels ever 
constructed. The captains were largely from that nur.sery 
of seamen. Cape C'o<l. and were not only bdld and skilful 
navigators, but in nianv instances, keen business men and 



58o 



ll'iilks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



large ship owners. They made wunderful passages around 
Cape Horn in the days of '49, and to AustraHa and the East 
Indies. The Civil War dealt a heavy blow to American ship- 
ping, as iii;iny large vessels were destroved bv the English 




Tliuiiias y. Hart 



built and equipped Confederate cruisers, which was no doubt 
a part of an English scheme to cripple American commerce 
which was fast becoming a formidable rival. In this way a 
great deal of the carrying trade of the world was transferred 
to English bottoms and soon after subsidized steamers re- 
placed sailing vessels, and thus a large element of American 



IValks and Talks About Historic Boston. 5^' 

power and pr()sj)erit\- slippol from her .ijrasp. But within 
the last two decades, shrewd investors have come to reahze 
that no citv offers better or safer real estate investment than 
this i;oiid old city of Boston. As a result the business section 
has l)ccn sjreatly chansjed and improved and many old land- 
marks have disappeared, sometimes to the rea;ret of many 
citizens. 

The wealthv .-ind inlliiential business men are now working 
throuijli two powerful organizations, the Chamber of Com- 
mercea and Board of Trade to make Boston one of the ,<;reat- 
est shippin.a: ports of the world. A mas'nificent system of 
docks, warehouses and elevators has been planned and is 
beiui,'- carried to completion, which will cost millions and will 
put Boston in the forefront and secure to her a large portion 
of the immense export trade of the West and bring to her 
docks the largest ocean liners The scope and magnificence 
of the project reflects great credit on the Itrains. the pluck, 
and the enterprise of Boston's business men. 

MAYOR HART, 1889-1890, 1900-1901. 

A public man taking office without a definite program 
may do some good, as opportunity offers, but is not apt 
to make an enduring impression. Alayor Hart is identified 
with many measures aft'ecting Boston, such as the theory 
and practice of home rule, the separation of the public 
school establishment from city council control, the intro- 
duction of the trollev street-car system, all the year round 
employment of city labor, and the security of clerks and 
other subordinates during good behavior (stat. iSoo. ch. 

As a business man. Mayor Hart g;'.ve special attention 
to the business affairs of the city, and particularly to the 
finances. This topic had become urgent under the act 
passed by the General Court in 1883 (ch. 266), limiting 
both the tax and the debt of the city. If the Genera! Court 
could manage Boston, and if good government could lie 
established by statute, the law of 1885 was projier. It 
worked out differently. Tlie tax rate was kept down ; Imt 
the del)t increased ominously, and the General Court au- 
thorized this increase. 

Mayor Hart demanded a cliange for the belter, lie 
fou.ght almost single-handed. In i()00. after a camp;iiu;n of 
education, the point was carried. The tax rate rf r.oslon 



5S-' ll'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

for current exnenscs was raised from $9 per $1000 of as- 
sessed valuation to S10.50. Havino- thus increased the tax 
burden of the jieople, the poHtical eft'ect appeared at the 
next ,t;eneral election, when Ma^ur Hart was o\erwhehu- 
ingly defeated. \et n.. efl'drt ha^ heen made tn rc\ er-e the 
financial policy of Alaynr llart. 

A safe test of L;o\ei-nmcnt i- the ledger. Tlie cit\- of 
Boston is fortiuiate in havin;^- the annual reports of the citv 
auditor, telling- exactly the income and out.s;o of the city. 
Few governments make reports as comi)lete and trust- 
worth}'. The annual -'eport of the cit\ auditor for ii;or-2 
records on ]>age 44 the recci])! of $7.70S,(,4S.So a> the final 
payment for the water sujiply system taken from the city. 
This com|)leted the case, s(]me previous payments having 
been made, and the settlement haxing heen effected on the 
basis of about $1,^000.000. The estimates of the \alue taken 
by the .^tate. namelv, the citv water supply, not including 
the distribution ser\ ice. were made li\- AI.inki- ll.irt and 
acceptec] by ( loxernor L'rane. The altern;ui\e wa-- a law- 
suit lasting for many years, \et not dcTiling with a rc:il law 
question. It was a business compronii-~e. The niouex ob- 
tained was used as far as possible for reducing the city 
debt. The auditor's report for iooi-2. page 2_V), accoiTlmgly 
reports the net debt of the city January 31, kjoj. at S47,- 
152,085. 5J. Twci years liefore it stood at $58, .^,^3. 337. 50 

The late .Ma\or. the Hon. John ¥■ Fitzgerald, was in thor- 
ough svm])atliv with all these plans and ,gave as his motto 
when elected in 11)05. "a better, bigger and busier r)oston." 
and during his term of office preached constantly from this 
text ;it home and aliroad. Tie had no aixilogies to make for 
the city of his birth and the city which he lovetl. It was his 
aim to see her reach that high vantage ground, which her 
past histor\ and the intelligence, Inisiness cajiacity and char- 
acter of her citizens entitled her to occupy. His record 
since he startecl out in political life is full ol ,icliie\ements 
for the good of tile coinnion peopK- as well as for the Im^i- 
ness interests of the cit\. I'.orn in the .Vorth I'.nd, he knew 
its needs, and the North I'-ud 1 'ark is a memorial to his hu- 
manity and of his lo\ c for the scenes of his childhood. Thu'- 
ing- his administration the "High School of I'ommerce" was 
founded, likewise the '■.Schnol of Practical Arts for (iirls." 
I'.otli of thesf institiuious are useful and valuable. ( )ther 
achiexements were the founding of tile I "onsumpti\e> Hos- 



Walk's and Talks About Historic Boston. s^i 

|)ital, the Playground of the Parker Mill District, the secur- 
ing of tlie Saturday half holiday for City Mniployees, the ap- 
propriation for the reconstruction of the ( )1(1 State House. 
He ap]iointe(l a Dock Commissioner to ascertain what im- 
provement ciiuld he made in the Deck System. The pas- 




//. 



■/,,l,ii /•'. Fil-:ri<,l,t 



sage of the $(;.(.xx).ooo Dock Hill hy the Legislature of 191 1 
was a very satisfactory answer to his in(|niry, and no small 
credit for that action is due him. for the foresight, hopeful- 
ness and energy dis])layed hy him in carrying on that cam- 
paign. He has proved himself, in the higher sense, what 
most men admire, "a good fighter." and for what he believes 
to lie ri^jht. he can give and take hard hlnws. lie has been 



584 JValks and Talks About Historic Boston. 

in the "lime li.tilit" and partisanship has been running high, 
but lie can afford to await the verdict of a later generation 
as to the true value of the services rendered by him. 

The present JMayor, Hon. James M. Curley, is running the 
gauntlet of all his predecessors, and when his administration 
is completed it will be possible to see and appreciate his 
many good deeds which ha\'e been for the financial and 
moral Ijcnefit of the city, for whicli all just and reasonable 
men will gi\e him full credit. 

soaip: TnTX(;s worth kxowixg .\T!()UT the 

];OST( DX OT TODAY. 

From Boston Globe. 

Boston has the finest sewerage system in the country; 
richest population in the country: shortest and most direct 
route to F.uroiH': one of the most noted Art Museums in the 
country: one of the finest municipal Libraries in the coun- 
try; one of the finest fresh water basins in the world; the 
greatest University in the country; the finest Institute of 
Technology in the country; the finest municipal hospital in 
the country: the best educational facilities for the blind; the 
finest and largest arboretum in the country; the largest 
stone dry dock in the country: the largest wool storage 
house in the world: the largest commercial organization in 
the country; the largest watch factory in the world; the 
largest candy factory in the country; the largest shoe man- 
ufacturing plant in the world; the largest entomological 
laboratory in the world; the finest floating hospital for chil- 
dren in the world: the best drives of any city in the coun- 
tr\': Tioston in the favorite Convention City in the country. 

CO.MPARISOX OX TEXTILE PRODUCTS. 

\'alue — Boston, $c)8.56i.ioo: Providence. $27,626,619; 
Philadelphia, $i5,ic)3,673; Xew York, $10,603,907: Chicago, 
•$10,403,449: St. Louis. $7,824,596. 

\"ALUE BODT AXl) SHOE PRODUCTS. 

Boston, $69,945,133; St. Louis, $19,101,666; New York, 
$i4.2<)i,i75; Cincinnati. $10,840,778: Philadelphia, $5,931,- 
033: Chicago, .$5,5<)2.684. 



Walks and Talks Aboitt Historic Boston. 585 

INDrSTkrAl. DISTKKT^lXCRl'.ASI': IX INDUS- 
TRIKS- 

New York, 3-'. 8: I'.ostun, 2^). 2; Cliicago, 20.4: I'hiladel- 
pliia, 16.3: St. L(juis, 14.6. 

-MASSACIirSl'-TTS 1,I-.AI)S IN" Ct )Tr().\ IXDl^STRY. 

XuhiIkt oi spinillfs — Massachusetts, 19. 835, 610: South 
Carolina. ^vU^-.i^": Xortli Carolina, 3.IJ4.436; Rhode Is- 
land, 2.455,304. 

11)1 1 — Populatiiin within 50 miles of I'.ostijn coiiijiared 
with other lartic cities: Xew \'ork, 7,321.483: lloston. 3,- 
470,587; Philadelphia, 2,(>43,848: Chieas<), 2,843,057: St. 
Louis, 1,228,184. 

These fi!;'ures show that 1-26 of the entire population of 
the Cnited ."^tates is within 50 miles of Boston's Citv Hall. 
Almost all these people trade in lioston stores. 

Ph:R CAPIT.V \VE.\LTir OF CHIEF CITIES 

1911— P.nston. .$2. 15(1.82: .Xew ^^)rk. .S1.844.c15: Pitts- 
burg-. .$1,21)2. 02: Baltimore, $1,116.97; Philadelphia, $844.81; 
St. Louis. $822.20: Chicago. $381.20. 

SA\iX(is ()!•' THE .\.mi-;ricax people. 

11)11 — Xew ^'nrk, $i,526,()35,58i ; Massachusetts, $770,- 
814,452: Califiirnia. $334,<)65,87o; Pennsylvania. $175,194.- 
529; Ohio. $12(1,710.271; Illinois, .S3 1 .3o6,Ck)7 : Missouri, 
$27,643,257- 

SCIKX >L AXl) C()LLl-:(ih: ATTEXUAXCE— PCP.LIC 
St/IK )()L .ATTEXDAXCE. 

Xew ^"ork. 727.710; r.oston I. Met). 27,().t>(>2: Philadelphia. 
174.136: Chicago. 112,133: St. Louis. 87.170. 

p.\KK .\cKi-:s ()!■■ (iki-:AT ciTii-:s oi" Till-: world. 

r.o-ton, 20.570 acres: London, 10.000 acres; Paris, 17.943 
acres; I'.erhn. 11.080 acres: .Xew \'(3rk. ().()2o acres ; Chicago. 
4,388 acres: \'ieiina. 4,270 acres; Philadelphina. 4,171 acres; 
Los .Angeles. 3.737 acres ; Minneapolis, 3,37*) acres : St. 
Louis, 2,65() ac-res; Kansas titx", 2,465 acres. 



586 



ll'alks and Talks About Historic Boston. 



Ijostoii lias the largest and finest park system in the 
world, with 30 miles of picturesque river banks, over 12 
miles of delightful seashore, 79 miles of beautiful boule- 
vards, and over 50 miles of entrancing woodland roads and 
paths. The wonderful bathing- beaches about Boston, the 
best and safest in America, are part of the park system. 

The total valuation of the City of Boston, Real Estate and 
Personal five years ago was $1,393,760,423. 

The total Expenditure, city and county, was $34,288,549.- 
74- 




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